After winning the Test series, India will take on West Indies in the ODI format, in a 3-match ODI series starting July 27. The first two ODIs will be played in Barbados and the third game in Trinidad.
Once again India will start favorites. Given these ODI games against West Indies are crucial for preparation for the Asia Cup and in the larger picture the World Cup, the selectors have sent a strong squad – with the absence of the rested Mohammed Shami – among the players fit and available.
Even though West Indies are down on the mat, having failed to qualify for the World Cup 2023 after a debacle in the World Cup Qualifiers with losses to the likes of Zimbabwe, Scotland, and the Netherlands, Shai Hope’s team could pose a decent challenge in their home conditions.
Here is India’s probable playing XI for first ODI vs West Indies:
Top-order: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli
Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are set to open in the ODIs, followed by Virat Kohli at number 3. India’s top 3 in ODIs is set to remain this heading into the World Cup, barring any injuries.
All three of them have shown great form in recent months: in ODIs, in 2023, Gill, Kohli, and Rohit are India’s top-three run-scorers in that order. Gill, in particular, has been sensational, averaging 78 in 9 ODI innings this year so far.
Number 4: Suryakumar Yadav
This series against West Indies might be the last audition for Suryakumar Yadav in the ODI side. He bagged three golden ducks against Australia in the ODIs at home earlier this year; he averages 24 in 23 ODIs in his career with only 2 fifties. But with Shreyas Iyer currently recovering from an injury, and Suryakumar’s T20 success, the selectors have stuck with him for the ODIs.
But with Iyer in line to get fit in the coming weeks, the West Indies series might be the last attempt for Suryakumar Yadav to crack the ODI format.
Wicket-keeper: Sanju Samson/Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan smashed a double century last year against Bangladesh but failed to capitalize on that. In 4 innings in ODIs this year, Ishan averages only 11 and has 33 runs.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson had fantastic ODI numbers in 2022: in 9 ODI innings last year, he averaged a terrific 71 with a strike rate of 105. Importantly, Samson did this while batting in the middle-order while Kishan is moreoverly looked at as an opening back-up.
In the absence of KL Rahul, it feels liks Samson might get a chance against West Indies as the keeper in the middle order.
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur/Axar Patel
Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are certain starters for India in West Indies, and in the World Cup. The conundrum for the management is to pick a spin-bowling all-rounder in Axar Patel, who is a proper all-rounder these days, or go for a pace-bowling all-rounder in Shardul Thakur. It’s a tough choice, a decision likely to be made on the pitch.
Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar
In the absence of Shami and Bumrah, Siraj will lead India’s pace attack in West Indies. The leg-spinner’s spot will be a toss between Chahal and Kuldeep: since Jan 2022, in ODIs, Kuldeep has 27 wickets at an average of 24 while Chahal has 24 wickets at 27. It will be a tough choice for the management but Chahal might just get the nod in the first ODI.
However in the Asia Cup and the World Cup, we might even see the Kul-Cha back together in the playing XI, with Hardik Pandya bowling regularly these days, India might not need a third or fourth seamer in the line-up in Asian conditions.
Mukes Kumar might pip Unadkat for the other pacer’s spot against West Indies, though India could also use Thakur to extend the line-up.
India’s predicted playing XI for 1st ODI vs West Indies:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk)/Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar/Shardul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar
India’s ODI squad vs West Indies:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
