Team India arrives in Ahmedabad ahead of West Indies ODIs

As per the latest developments, Team India players have arrived in Ahmedabad for the upcoming ODI series against West Indies. All three games will take place at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad with the action getting underway on February 6. As the Men in Blue suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash in the preceding ODI series against South Africa, they would be determined to bounce back.

Meanwhile, all Indian players participating in the series entered the bio bubble between Sunday and Monday. Leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, on Saturday (January 29), took to Instagram and posted a picture of his departure for Ahmedabad. He can be seen sitting in the flight alongside opener Shikhar Dhawan. Notably, this would be Rohit’s first assignment as India’s full-time ODI skipper and many eyes will be on his performance.

“They will undergo a three-day quarantine,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by India Today. Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named an 18-player squad for the ODI series. With so many options being in the reckoning, the team management’s first challenge would be finalizing a potent playing XI.

Selection challenge awaits Rohit Sharma in maiden assignment as full-time ODI skipper

With skipper and opener Rohit Sharma, who missed South Africa ODIs due to a hamstring injury, coming back in the picture, KL Rahul is likely to draft back in the middle order. Rahul, however, will be available from the second ODI onwards. The biggest headache would be finalizing the lower order with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel being unavailable due to fitness concerns.

Selecting the bowling attack might also require some brainstorming. Speedsters Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been given rest. Hence, youngsters and non-regulars have a great chance to make a mark. Notably, selectors have awarded the likes of Deepak Hooda and Ravi Bishnoi for their impressive show in the domestic circuit. At the same time, Kuldeep Yadav has earned a recall.

Indi’s ODI squad against West Indies: Rohit Sharma (Capt), KL Rahul (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan