While the likes of Virat Kohli and Jasosystem Bumrah would miss the whole tour, people like Rohit SharmaKL Rahul, Rishabh PantHardik Pandya, Dinesh karthik and R Ashwin will only return to the shortest format.
But even in the absence of high-performance players, Team India will still be a force to consider. The bench power it possesses has been proven in the past and more often than not they have passed with faded colors. It will also be interesting to see how coach Rahul Dravid manages the team alongside Dhawan over the course of a day.
With the ODI series starting on Friday, TimesofIndia.com here takes a look at how the two teams stack up, one by one, in several departments:
Opener – Shikhar Dhawan with Shai Hope
When it comes to opening rounds in ODI, Shikhar Dhawan has been one of the best in the world for the past few years. He played one last Test match in 2018 and one T20I in July 2021, but ODIs remain a stronghold for the veteran Indian hitter.
One of the most experienced hitters in the Indian squad, Dhawan will play a key role in the ODIs against the West Indies. With other senior players missing out, the onus will be on Dhawan to anchor India’s innings and play with the maturity for which he is famous.
Although the left-hander looked a bit rude in England’s ODI series, he will find a way to make quick amends when preparing for a tough challenge, both as opener and captain. . With a total of 6,325 runs in 152 games covering 7 hundred and 5 fifty, Dhawan knows very well what it takes to succeed at this level in ODI and the captain will look to lead his team.
Meanwhile, Shai Hope will be the one to pave the way for the Windies. Scores 2, 18 and 0 in the recently concluded Bangladesh series seem to suggest that Hope may be struggling on form, but the 28-year-old opener has 12 tons of ODI in 98 games with an average average over 49. Indian athletes throw the ball on their toes, especially in power matches.
Hope alongside Brandon King will be a dangerous combination but India will look to exploit the fact that both West Indies opening teams lack confidence at the moment. The experience Hope brings makes him a dangerous smasher and India will find a way to ensure that his batman remains silent.
Stroke doctors – Ishan Kishan with Nicholas Pooran
After proving his mettle in the shortest format, the pompous Ishan Kishan will be one of India’s main weapons in the ODI against the West Indies. Struggling to find opportunities in longer formats due to stiff competition, the three-match series is one where Ishan will work hard to make a mark.
The 24-year-old first-place player will most likely open India alongside Shikhar Dhawan. But Ishan played in 3rd place with either Ruturaj Gaikwadi or Shubman Gill Opening the half with Dhawan is also a possibility.
Regardless of his batting position, the left-handed player will find his way to greatness and impress the team leadership. Still a newbie in the ODI circuit, Ishan only had 3 days a day to make his name with 88 runs including 50. Ishan’s reputation as a talented tennis player has set him apart, and West Indian bowlers must be wary of that.
West Indies white ball captain Nicholas Pooran, a player known for his destructive batting skills, will be looking to debut all the brilliant guns in the upcoming series. Along with the leadership role, Pooran’s key job will be to fuel Batman’s fire. In the recently concluded ODI series against Bangladesh, Pooran had 91 runs in three games with his top score of 73 scored in the final encounter.
Overall in ODIs, Pooran has more international experience than Ishan, having played 46 games and accumulated 1293 runs with 9 fifties and a century. Pooran hitting the ball in the middle order will provide tremendous power to the team’s batting formation.
Both Ishan and Pooran, talented stroke producers, will be looking to delight fans in the upcoming series.
The All-rounder – Jason Holder vs Shardul Thakur
One of the current almighty best in the international ring, Jason Holder will be one of the biggest threats facing India in the series. Going back to the ODI setup after February 2022, Holder will be keen to make a big impact in the 50+ format.
Since the IPL ended in May, Holder has not played any professional cricket but it also means that one of the West Indies’ most experienced players will be fresh and eager to fight. fully in front of India.
Equally lethal with both bat and ball, Holder had 2,019 runs including 11 fifties and 146 hits to make his name in the ODIs. A solid low-ball hitter and a smart pitcher who can wreak havoc on new and old balls equally, the Holder can cause a lot of trouble for your batters and pitchers. India.
On the other hand, India will miss the offerings of Hardik Pandya swashbuckling in the ODI series. But Shardul Thakur would be a viable alternative to all-around fast bowling for India in this series.
Although Shardul is still young compared to his international experience, the 30-year-old has experience playing with quality teams. With 25 goals and 205 runs including 50 in 19 matches, Shardul will look to improve his stats in both disciplines and pose a tough challenge for the home team. If Shardul joins the ODI series, that could also help him make a case for himself for next year’s 50+ World Cup.
The Slogger – Deepak Hooda vs Rovman Powell
A belligerent mid-level swashbuckler who has taken the ticketing world by storm, the rise of Deepak Hooda has been phenomenal over the past few months. Effortless, confident shot, sent opposing pitchers to the cleaner at will and a rare T20I century identified Deepak in the Ireland series and the T20I match he played. fight England.
With the opportunity opening up for him in the 50-plus format, Deepak, who has already landed a purple patch, will be looking to exploit all the opportunities he can get in the ODIs with the West Indies.
From opening rounds and playing responsibly with the new ball to knocking out an opponent’s attack in the death ring, Deepak has made a solid impact and with a high probability he will be involved. ODI plays XI in the upcoming series, he will look to excel even further at the international level.
Deepak has 55 runs and a single racket in the 2 ODIs he has played so far and the West Indies series will be a big opportunity for him to make his case for being an all-around pick. more reliable in Formula 50 than in the previous one.
Meanwhile, Jamaican Rovman Powell showed off some of his batting skills at this year’s IPL, scoring 250 runs in 14 games, with a top score of 67*. Now is the time for the 28-year-old to replicate some of that great form for his national team.
Of the 43 ODIs Powell has represented the West Indies, he has only had 878 runs at an average of just over 23. rounder than possession.
Scores 9, 13 and 18 in the recent Bangladesh ODI also indicate that Powell’s bat has been quiet for a while. With senior campaigners missing from the bowling alley in India, Powell will try to put some pressure on and produce some winning performances for his team.
The Pacers – Alzarri Joseph vs Prasidh Krishna
Youngster Alzarri Joseph has been one of West Indies Cricket’s big finds since his international debut in 2016. The youngster is exceptional with the ball and has made a huge contribution to the West’s success. India recently. The 25-year-old, known for his fast bowling with deadly precision, has rocked tennis players at international level and in tournaments like the IPL, Caribbean Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League. At IPL 2022, the 25-year-old scored 7 goals in 9 matches for the champion – Gujarat Titans.
Against a strong Indian team, speed merchant Antiguan will be looking to make his mark. 78 goals in 49 games for an average of 27.65, including a better ball, shows that Joseph has continuously improved and ball handlers will find ways to pressure opponents .
Prasidh Krishna meanwhile has emerged as a reliable third bowling pick for India in ODIs with the presence of seniors. But with the likes of Jasionary Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in this series, Prasidh will have bigger responsibilities in the West Indies ODIs. Along with Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh will be crucial for India and the team will rely heavily on him to face off against an unpredictable West India squad.
Of the 10 ODIs Prasidh has played for the country so far, the 26-year-old high-low tempo has made a strong impression and has averaged just over 21.
In the absence of seniors, Prasidh will have a great opportunity to put on some remarkable performances and find a way to impress the selectors and team leadership.
