Guwahati: After thrashing West Indies 2-0 in test series, India now aims at the five-match ODI series that gets underway with a day-night encounter in Guwahati today.
Before test series with West Indies, India had won the Asia Cup title. According to cricket experts, ‘much stronger and experienced’ Indian side, is expected to continue it’s winning streak in the ODIs against Caribbeans.
There was speculation that captain Virat Kohli would be rested from the one-day series against the West Indies. Virat was given rest in the Asia Cup and in his absence Rohit Sharma led the Indian team. But one wouldn’t be surprise to know that selectors have handed over the captaincy to Virat, who is just 221 runs away from becoming ten thousand run scorer.
Young wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant is included in the ODI team but in the presence of wicketkeeper and former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Pant might not stand behind the wickets. For the first two matches of the series, two top fast bowlers---Jaspreet Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar---have been rested while Umesh Yadav has replaced pacer Shardul Thakur due to an injury. Umesh had taken 10 wickets in the second Test in Hyderabad and was awarded man of the match.
Fast-medium bowler Mohammed Shami, who did not feature in the ODIs against England and in the Asia Cup, is back in blue and will be supported by fellow pacer Khaleel Ahmed.
On the other hand, it would be fair to say that things are not looking very bright for the West Indies.
Opener Ewin Lewis has also pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons and Windies coach Stuart Law has been suspended for the first two ODIs for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.
However, the team will have players like Marlon Samuels, captain and all-rounder Jason Holder and pacer Kemar Roach. The squad features three uncapped players -- opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, all-rounder Fabian Allen and pacer Oshane Thomas.
West Indies star player and hitter Chris Gayle, is currently playing in the Premier League and he had declared himself unavailable for India and Bangladesh tour. Andre Russell was selected in the Twenty20 squad but due to injury, he was out of the ODI team. (UNI)