Hyderabad: West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard set the tone with some powerful shots during their first practice session ahead of their first T20 against India at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here.

Tall, muscular and flaunting gold chains, the Windies cricketers were a chirpy bunch. Pollard led from the front. After every ball he faced — during his 40-odd minute stint in the nets — the allrounder had an opinion. He even had friendly banters with the bowlers and his batting partners.

Unlike their previous tour to India, West Indies have been in the country for over a month and are better equipped to tackle the sub-continent conditions this time around. Earlier last month, Windies whitewashed Afghanistan in the ODI series (3-0), won the one-off Test, but lost the T20 series 1-2.

The reigning World T20 champions are without their attacking opener Chris Gayle and leading allrounders Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo. Gayle decided to take a break from all forms of cricket, while Russell, despite being fit, did not find a place in the team. Bravo, who had earlier hinted at an international comeback was not considered either.

The three-match series kicks off in Hyderabad on December 6, while the second T20 is in Thiruvananthapuram on December 8. The third T20 will be played in Mumbai on December 11.