IND vs WI: BCCI allows bigger crowds in Kolkata for third T20I

In what can be called a major development, the third T20I between India and West Indies shall see crowds in the stadium. It is to be noted this game is set to take place at Eden Gardens on February 20, in Kolkata. A formal request was earlier made by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to the BCCI.

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After which, the Indian board gave the nod to allow spectators for the final game of the T20I series. All three matches are to be played in Kolkata itself. However, for the first two games on Wednesday and Friday, some crowd have been allowed in the hospitality area and the Club House upper tier.

CAB had requested the BCCI to allow spectators in the upper blocks of all the stands at Eden. However, the cricket board has granted permission for the third and final game of the series. According to a report by The Indian Express, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had given the permission to allow crowds through an email.

Not necessarily experiment: Rohit Sharma

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“As discussed with other OB, as per your request, you can open up for the last T20 match against West Indies at Eden,” read Sourav Ganguly's email to CAB chief Avishek Dalmiya. In the meanwhile, India would want to continue their good form in the T20I series as well. Earlier, they had whitewashed Windies in the three-match ODI series. Moreover, with the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 approaching, every game is crucial.

However, the Asian side's limited-overs skipper Rohit Sharma wasn't too fussed about experimenting with anything. He said that they didn't want to experiment as there are several youngsters, who need a longer run. The opener also drew light on giving the necessary "game time" to the youngsters.

"Not necessarily experiment, because all these guys are very young, not played a lot of cricket to keep experimenting with them. We need to give them that assurance that game time, once we have that then we can try out. Till then we need to fill those gaps. Whatever it takes, we will do that," said Rohit Sharma, as quoted by NDTV Sports.