India vs Windies, 1st ODI, Match Prediction: Who will win the Match?

India and Windies will lock horns in the five-match ODI series after a one-sided Test rubber. The hosts undoubtedly are the overwhelming favourites while the Caribbean side will be keen to prove everyone wrong in what has been a troubled tour for them so far. Nothing went their way in the Tests and the fortunes are expected to turn in the shorter formats. Even the fans will be hoping for some tussle on the field rather than the one-sided affairs.

Virat Kohli is back at the helm for India and he will continue to bat at his favoured number three position while Ambati Rayudu will get a chance at four in the line-up. Ahead of the World Cup, the Men in Blue have still some issues to address and would hope that they will find those answers in the near future. Moreover, the pace bowling department is also thin in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.

Windies skipper Jason Holder, on the other hand, would want his troops to turn it around in the ODIs. Even they will be hoping to sort out the combinations before the mega event. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, their regular opening pair, have pulled out of the tour which leaves them with only Kieran Powell to open who will most likely be assisted by Shai Hope.

Pitch and Weather

Accuweather report that the climate in Guwahati will pleasant as the temperatures will hover around 30 Degrees Celsius throughout the day. As far as the pitch is concerned, nobody knows how will it play as the venue itself is hosting its first ODI. India last played a T20I against Australia at the Barasapara Cricket Stadium and was bundled out for 118.

Team Combinations

India

The home side has announced its 12-man squad ahead of the game and Manish Pandey has been left out. This has confirmed that Rishabh Pant will make his ODI debut unless they decide to play an extra seamer which is unlikely. Virat Kohli confirmed in the pre-match presser that India will go in with two spinners and three seamers which means that Yuzvendra Chahal is likely to be benched. Ravindra Jadeja will play in the XI given that he will bat at seven.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Ambati Rayudu, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami.

Windies

Windies will have to field a new opening pair in this series. Kieran Powell is naturally an opener and he will be assisted by Shai Hope most probably with the likes of Marlon Samuels, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer and Sunil Ambris. Jason Holder is a vital cog in the side and his all-round prowess should come to the fore if the visitors are hoping to win the game. Ashley Nurse and Devendra Bishoo will handle spin bowling duties and Kemar Roach will lead the pace attack.

Probable XI: Kieran Powell, Shai Hope (wk), Marlon Samuels, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sunil Ambris, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach.

Focus will be on

Virat Kohli – India | Jason Holder – Windies

Head to Head

Matches – 121 | India won – 56 | Windies won – 61 | NR/Tie – 1

Approaching Milestones

39 – Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan needs to add 39 runs together to become the second most successful opening pair for India in ODIs. They have scored 1431 opening the innings for the team at an average of 49.34.

53 – Marlon Samuels, who will play his 200th ODI in Guwahati, needs only 53 runs to complete 2000 runs in ODis in Asia.

Broadcast Details

TV – Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD

Live Streaming – Hotstar

The prediction is for India to comprehensively win the series opener and take the 1-0 lead.

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