Former India batter Hanuma Vihari has raised serious concerns about India’s bowling department ahead of the five-match T20I series against West Indies, which begins on October 6, 2026, in Lucknow. Vihari pointed to Arshdeep Singh as the only bowler he considers reliable in the current squad, casting doubt on the depth of India’s attack going into the series.
Vihari’s assessment covered the full bowling unit, singling out three bowlers by name alongside Arshdeep and warning that India cannot afford to rely solely on their batting against a West Indies side he described as carrying raw power. The right-handed batter’s criticism was directed at three bowlers in particular, each carrying a different question mark heading into the series. His view was that none of the three had done enough to be considered a settled, dependable option alongside Arshdeep Singh in the T20I format.
On Kuldeep Yadav, Vihari noted that the wrist spinner has not yet settled into T20I cricket despite being a prominent match-winner in other formats. Ravi Bishnoi, the other wrist spin option available to India, was described as inconsistent. Mayank Yadav was acknowledged for his potential as a pace bowler, but Vihari stressed that he is raw and young, having played only six international games at this stage of his career.
“India will have to do well with this bowling attack if they have to beat this West Indies side that has raw power in the batting. Keep Arshdeep side. Kuldeep has not yet settled into the T20I side. Bishnoi has been hot and cold. Mayank is raw and young. There is no bowling as such. Only Arshdeep is the one. That is why it will be a huge task with this bowling attack. We cannot rely only on batting,” Hanuma Vihari said in a video on his YouTube channel.
What is the schedule for the India vs West Indies T20I series 2026?
The five-match T20I series between India and West Indies runs from October 6 to October 17, 2026, across five Indian cities. The opening match takes place in Lucknow, with subsequent games scheduled in Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru in that order.
Shreyas Iyer leads India across all five matches, while West Indies are captained by Shai Hope for the duration of the tour. The spread of venues across the country means conditions will vary from game to game, adding another layer of challenge for a bowling attack that Vihari has already flagged as thin on reliable options.
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