The first semi-final clash of the T20 world cup is most likely to witness numerous changes. Changes would be in terms of strategy, approach but the highlight would be the change in the playing squad.

As announced a day before, right-handed batsman Manish Pandey would be replacing Yuvraj Singh in the team’s next clash against West Indies. Similarly, the Caribbean boys made a replacement of Andre Fletcher with Lendl Simmons. This change in the squad came as a result of Fletcher’s hamstring injury, which the wicket-keeper batsman got hit with in the team’s last match against Afghanistan.

Simmons Profile

Simmons, who in a short time in the international T20 circuit, has impressed the whole Caribbean cricket fraternity by knocking 761 runs with an average of 25.36. His major achievements were recorded during his stints in the Pakistan Cricket League and the Big Bash League. Playing for Karachi Kings, Simmons scored 151 runs in the last 6 games, whereas his days in the Australian league were also no less than wonderful (44, 54 and 34).

India’s counterattack Pandey

Where Simmons has good experience playing international cricket (34 T20Is and 68 ODIs), the Indian replacement Manish Pandey lacks majorly in it (2 T20Is and 4 ODIs). Though Pandey has a fair share of playing Twenty20 matches in the domestic circuit, his inexperience in the other side gives West Indies a lead in the comparison. Despite the lack of experience against international players, Manish Pandey in his last ODI innings scored a fantastic century (104*) against the mighty Australians in January 2016. Having said this, hopes of the team may not drown so easily when Pandey would be facing the Windies bowlers on Thursday.