The three-match ODI series between India and West Indies will kick off on July 22. India has rested veteran players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah from this series. However, Shikhar Dhawan has the opportunity to take charge of the team for the second time.
Despite losing so many key players, the Dhawan-led away team will be favorites against a struggling West Indies side. It will be a great opportunity for the likes of Ishan Kishan, Rituraj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Hooda to show off their skills in ODI cricket.
India has many options to choose from in their bowling attack, facing the West Indies’ poor batting line-up. In ODI, Vice-Captain Ravindra Jadeja is likely to team up with the leg-spinning Yuzvendra Chahal in the spinning department.
In the absence of Pandya, Shardul Thakur can be given a chance as a fast and versatile shooter, if Arshdeep Singh cannot recover from the stomach problem, then the famous Krishna and Mohammad Siraj or Avesh Khan can play two fast shooters.
With the West Indies losing the ODI series 3-0 to Bangladesh in Guyana recently, the return of all-round leader Jason Holder after resting from cue ball matches against the Netherlands, Pakistan and Bangladesh will make a big difference.
Holder’s return will inspire current captain Nicholas Pooran to pull the hosts out of their troubles in the ODI format, where he has been unable to bat the full 50 overs and form crucial partnerships.
West Indies Team: Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Shai Hope (Vice-Captain), Shamar Brooks, Jason Holder, Keesey Carty, Akil Hossain, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Meyers, Gudkesh Moti, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Jaden Seals, Romario Shepherd (Reserve), and Hayden Walsh Jr. (Reserve).
Indian Team: Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Rituraj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (Week), Sanju Samson (Week), Ravindra Jadeja (Vice Captain), Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel , Avesh Khan, the famous Krishna, Mohammad Siraj and Arshdeep Singh.