After their dominant 1-0 victory in the Test series, Team India is eager to continue their winning momentum in the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies, starting this Thursday. The first two games will be held at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on July 27 and July 29, while the third and final ODI will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad on August 1.
This ODI series holds great importance for Team India as it provides them with a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted on home soil in October-November later this year. The team will be looking to build a strong squad and strategize effectively through these fixtures.
Having achieved a clean sweep in the last ODI series against West Indies in July 2022, India will be determined to replicate a similar performance this time around and establish their dominance once again.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have formed an excellent opening partnership in ODIs since January this year, providing solid starts and scoring runs consistently at the top. Rohit has scored 371 runs in 8 matches, including one ton and two fifties. Meanwhile, Gill has been in exceptional form, smashing 624 runs in 9 ODIs at an outstanding average of 78, with three centuries and one fifty-plus score to his name. Given their success as a pair, they are expected to open the innings for India in the upcoming ODI series against West Indies.
Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson will be key batters for the team in the middle order. Kohli is currently in fabulous form, having scored 427 runs in 9 ODIs, with two centuries and a solitary fifty. On the other hand, Samson has been in and out of the team but in whatever opportunities that he has got he has been staggering. With India slated to play three games, the wicketkeeper-batter will likely be part of all three games because India are without the services of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. Meantime, Suryakumar Yadav hasn’t been a great No.4 for India and therefore, Samson will have a great chance to grab the spot.
Among the all-rounders, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel would grab their spots. Pandya, who is also the vice-captain in ODIs, has contributed with both bat and ball, scoring 198 runs and taking 9 wickets in 7 ODIs. Jadeja has accounted for 2 wickets and scored 79 runs in 3 ODIs this year, while Patel has picked up 3 wickets and scored 63 runs in 5 games.
When it comes to spin bowling, Kuldeep Yadav is best wrist spinner in India, making him the frontrunner to lead the spin attack in the Caribbean. As a result, Yuzvendra Chahal have to sit on the bench. Kuldeep has picked up 15 wickets in 8 ODIs this year, while Chahal has grabbed 3 wickets in two ODIs.
Regarding the seamers, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur will surely be there in the playing XI, leaving one seamer’s spot up for grabs. Siraj has been the leading wicket-taker for India in ODIs this year, taking 19 scalps in 8 games. Thakur played 4 ODI games earlier this year, grabbing 6 wickets in total.
India have three quality pacers to choose from – Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar and Jaydev Unadkat. In this scenario, the visitors would look to go with Unadkat, who provides them with the left-arm angle.
India’s best XI for the ODI series against West Indies
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj.
India’s ODI Squad for the ODI series versus West Indies:
Rohit Sharma (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson (wk), Surya Kumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya (vc), Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
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