India thrashed West Indies in the first ODI at Bridgetown in Barbados on Thursday and will be hoping to do the same in the second ODI on Saturday at the same venue. With World Cup less than four months away Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid will be looking to try and test a few combinations in this series.
In the first game, the Indian bowling fired on all cylinders. When Hardik Pandya took the new ball it raised a few eyebrows. However, it worked well as he provided the team with an early breakthrough. Once seamers did the initial damage spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav ran through the rest of the West Indian batting line-up. With the bat chasing a low 115 India made a few tweaks to their batting lineup. Ishan Kishan who came as an opener instead of Rohit Sharma scored a quick-fire half-century to take India home by five wickets.
West Indies on the other hand would be hoping to bat better than what they did in the first ODI. Their batters struggled to pick Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Apart from Shai Hope the other batters hardly showed any resistance or will to grind it out. However, Gudakesh Motie was a big positive in the game with the ball for the hosts.
Here is the tip off XI for West Indies vs India 2nd ODI
Yuzvendra Chahal into the side
The Barbados pitch for the first game assisted the spinners. With Chahal available in the squad India might be tempted to play him in place of one of the fast bowlers. Though he has been a regular in the T20Is for India since the resurgence of Kuldeep Yadav he has gone down the pecking order as the first-choice spinner in the ODI side. He will be trying to prove himself if given an opportunity.
Can Samson get in?
With Ishan Kishan justifying his selection in the first game with a half-century it is difficult to see how the Kerala player makes it into the eleven. However, if the team management is keen on seeing what he can offer they can rest one experienced player in the remaining two games in skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and give him a go.
Oshane Thomas in for West Indies
Though the spinners did well for the West Indies the hosts lacked extra oomph in the side in the pace department. Thomas with his height and pace can bring in another dimension to the bowling attack. His high pace also means irrespective of how the surface will play he will still be able to make an impact.
Predicted XI
India predicted XI Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal.
West Indies predicted XIBrandon King, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope (C & wk), Keacy Carty, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Dominic Drakes, Yannic Cariah, Gudakesh Motie, Oshane Thomas.
Squads:
West Indies Squad: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Dominic Drakes, Yannic Cariah, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Keacy Carty, Alzarri Joseph, Oshane Thomas, Kevin Sinclair
India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan(w), Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jaydev Unadkat, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad
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