India vs Windies, 1st ODI, Preview: Visitors look to revive fortunes against confident India

This is a great opportunity for a lot of Indian players to regain their touch.

Published - 20 Oct 2018, 18:58 IST | Updated - 20 Oct 2018, 18:58 IST

4 Min Read

After thrashing the Windies 2-0 in the Test series, Team India is now up for a 5-match ODI series. They will want to use this series to figure out the best possible combination they can field keeping in mind the following tour ‘Down Under’. With the Windies side hardly providing competition to the opposition, one would expect India to dominate the visitors once again.

This is a great opportunity for a lot of Indian players to regain their touch and in fact, impress the team management. Rishabh Pant and Khaleel Ahmed especially will know that this series might as well determine their fortunes with the team leading into the World Cup.

For the Windies, it is important to leave the wounds of the Test series behind and seek revival despite the fact that they are up against a much superior side and in their own backyard. Jason Holder, who has led the team from the front, would be expecting his boys to pull off their weight. Some limited-overs specialists joining the side will be eager to perform well in India given how high the stakes are. It just gives them that extra motivation to put up a better display of their skills.

Team Combinations

India

Team India has released a 12-man squad for the first ODI. They’ve left out KL Rahul and Manish Pandey for the series opener. Furthermore, hard-hitting batsman, Rishabh Pant will be making his debut in the ODI side as a specialist batsman and is expected to take the finishers’ role which MS Dhoni has taken for all these years now. Both Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami will be making a comeback into the side while Ravindra Jadeja is expected to continue in the XI being the all-round option.

Virat Kohli informed at the press conference that three seamers and two spinners will be playing the match. Hence, Yuzvendra Chahal might be sitting out for Khaleel Ahmed.

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

Windies

Kieran Powell and wicketkeeper Shai Hope are expected to open the innings for the Windies. Marlon Samuels will be batting at number three. He will be followed by Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sunil Ambris. Skipper Jason Holder and Ashley Nurse will be taking the roles of the all-rounders. Devendra Bishoo will be the other spinner in the side while Kemar Roach and Keemo Paul will complete the pace attack.

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

Focus will be on

Umesh Yadav (India)

Umesh Yadav was dropped from the ODI squad after his dismal performance in England. However, the speedster, with a mighty impressive performance in the Test series, earned a call-up into the ODI team. He replaced the injured Shardul Thakur and will be raring to go in the first ODI to put the selectors in a state of conundrum ahead of the Australia series. A lot of eyes would be watching him keenly and he must put up a good show.

Rovman Powell (Windies)

Rovman Powell has had a fine run in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He scored 329 runs in 10 innings at an average of 55 and strike rate of 162. He would be the key for the Windies in the middle-order and expect him to light up the stadium with some monstrous sixes. The right-hander will take up the role of a finisher in the side.

StatAttack

91 – The number of wickets picked by Mohammad Shami in his ODI career thus far. He will need 9 more scalps in eight games to become the fastest Indian to 100 ODI wickets.

100 – This will be the 100th ODI for Rohit Sharma as an opener ever since he was promoted up the order in the Champions Trophy 2013. He will require another 18 runs to complete 5,000 runs during this period.

51 – Runs MS Dhoni will require to score to complete 10,000 ODI runs for India. He has scored 174 runs in three innings while playing for Asia XI.

224 –Rishabh Pant will be the 224th player to represent India in ODIs when he makes his debut in the first ODI.