Following their 1-0 victory in the two-match Test series, Team India is all set to face West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series on Thursday in Bridgetown. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian side will utilize this series against West Indies to experiment with a few players, finalizing their combinations ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup scheduled for October-November on home turf. Suryakumar Yadav will be aiming to enhance his 50-over credentials, while Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are likely to compete for the wicketkeeper‘s spot.
Despite being expected to dominate the West Indies, the series offers a crucial opportunity for players like Suryakumar, Kishan, Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Umran Malik to prove their mettle.
Here is our predicted playing XI for India in the first ODI against West Indies:
Rohit Sharma: The Indian skipper showcased his brilliance in the two-match Test series, amassing 240 runs and emerging as the second-highest run-scorer. However, he struggled in the last ODI series against Australia, scoring only 43 runs in two matches. Rohit will undoubtedly look to start his preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup on a positive note.
Shubman Gill: The young opener has been a valuable asset for Team India across all formats with his aggressive batting style. Nevertheless, he failed to meet expectations in the Test series against West Indies and couldn’t register significant scores in the three-match ODIs against Australia. Gill will be eager to bounce back with a strong performance against the Caribbeans.
Virat Kohli: The star Indian batsman impressed everyone with his heroic 76th international century during the Tests against West Indies. He will aim to maintain his momentum in the ODIs and continue his prolific run-scoring form.
