5 Changes India should make for the next ODI against West Indies

After the first game was abandoned, India won the next game by 105 runs to get a 1-0 lead in the series. It was a complete performance by India as they posted 310 for 5 in rain-curtailed 43-overs a side game at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad. The teams have 4 days in between the second and third game to recuperate.

Ajinkya Rahane has so far done exceedingly well by scoring a half-century and a century in two games. The right-hander has stepped into the rested Rohit Sharma’s shoes without breaking into a sweat. Shikhar Dhawan has carried his form from England and has scored successive half-centuries in both games. Kohli has gotten runs as well and once again the top order has made the bulk of the runs in the series so far.

The bowlers did not get a chance to do anything at all in the first game but were decent in the next game. Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided the customary breakthroughs early into the innings in Trinidad. Hardik Pandya bowled very economically and newcomer Kuldeep helped himself to a 3-wicket haul in his first chance with the ball in ODI cricket. With 3 games still to go and the West Indies not offering much resistance, India must change certain things in their XI for the 3rd ODI.

Let us have a look at the 5 changes India must go for in the 3rd ODI:

1) Promote Kedar Jadhav in the batting order:

Jadhav has batted just thrice in 7 games and two out of these times he remained unbeaten after facing 21 balls collectively. Jadhav has an immense ability as an ODI batsman and has proven his worth in the past by scoring a scintillating hundred against England in January. That knock followed a brilliant 90 which eventually went in vain after the right-hander almost got India home from an impossible position. India must give Jadhav enough chances at the top of the order to see how he reacts to the responsibility. He can be someone who can bat at No. 4 and do an effective job.

2) Get Rishabh Pant in the XI

Pant’s selection was widely applauded by cricketing experts as he has a lot of talent and can be a superstar in the years to come. Series against West Indies and Sri Lanka later can be a good development of the 19-year old. He can open the innings if the need is where he can express himself freely. Shikhar Dhawan, like Sharma, can be given rest for one game to give Pant a go. Pant made headlines when he made a whirlwind 97 against Gujarat Lions in the IPL, a knock which impressed legend Tendulkar. It is only fair to give the youngster an opportunity to taste international cricket in the testing conditions of West Indies.

3) Include Mohammad Shami

Not many know that Mohammad Shami’s last ODI came in the 2015 World Cup. He was injured twice in the last two years which stopped him from adding to his 47 ODI caps so far. After returning to full fitness, Shami was picked to play in the Champions Trophy and travel to the West Indies but hasn’t got a single game so far. Shami was the best ODI seamer India had before he was injured. In 47 games, the 26-year old has taken 87 wickets at 24.89 runs per wicket. Shami is a wicket taking bowler and must get a look in very soon. India have preferred Umesh Yadav over Shami in the past but the former hasn’t given the best results in limited overs cricket.

4) Look at Rahane as a middle order option too

Rahane has had a great run in the first two games scoring 165 runs collectively. He has stepped up in the absence of Rohit Sharma as an opener very smoothly. In the past, Rahane has also batted in the middle order with reasonable success though opening the innings suit his game more. Since Rohit will walk back into the team for the next series, Rahane might be out of the XI and Kohli must try and play him in the middle order to see how Rahane goes about his business there. The 29-year old has been a floater in ODI cricket for the last 3 years and making him bat in the middle order gives India depth and solidity in the middle order, especially as Dhoni and Yuvraj aren’t the same players anymore.

5) Retain Kuldeep Yadav in the XI for the rest of the series

Kuldeep had a memorable outing in the second game picking 3/50 off 9 overs. He bamboozled the West Indies batsmen with his variations and got two out of his three victims stumped. He went for runs early on but came back well in his second spell to return with decent figures in his debut innings for India in ODIs. The 22-year old has kept Jadeja out of the side in the first two games. Jadeja brings a lot to the table and won’t be warming the benches in the entire series but India must not replace him with Kuldeep. The chinaman bowler is one for the future and has a certain mystery attached to his bowling which gives him an edge over the rest. If India wants to play Jadeja they can replace him with Ashwin. Going forward, India needs a wrist spinner in limited overs cricket and Kuldeep can be that guy provided he is groomed the right way.