After decimating England in English Conditions in White Ball cricket, England are set to tour the West Indies for a 3 Match ODI Series followed by a 5 Match T20 Series. The ODIs are set to take place at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad, on July 22, 24, and 27. India won the ODI Series 2–0, the last time they toured West Indies in 2019.
The BCCI have announced a a 16-member squad for a 3-match series while naming swashbuckling opener Shikhar Dhawan as the captain of the side with Ravindra Jadeja serving as his deputy.
India have decided to rest several key members of the squad for the upcoming ODI series thus giving the fringe players a chance to make their claims for the ODI World Cup scheduled next year. The players who have been rested are: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami.
Let us have a look at India’s ODI Squad:
Shikhar Dhawan (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (Wk), Sanju Samson (Wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammad Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
With as many as 7 regular players missing from the ODI Squad, the upcoming West Indies Series will be an ideal opportunity for many players to deliver a strong performance. India fielded a comparatively inexperienced pace battery bowling attack for this tour with the likes of SIraj, Prasidh, Avesh and Shardul getting a look-in along with the impressive T20 Debutant Arshdeep Singh.
On the other hand, the Hosts too have named a 13-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series with some major big names missing as usual.
The West Indies' ODI squad looks like this:
Nicholas Pooran (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales.
Star-All rounder Jason Holder returns to the ODI Squad after being rested for the Bangladesh Series while Anderson Philip and bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd has been dropped after their poor shows. Holder's return bolsters Windies line-up as the southpaw has 450 runs and 23 scalps against India across 25 matches.
Ironically, it was Holder who performed with the bat and ball (57 in 1st ODI, 4 for 34 in the 3rd ODI) the last time India faced West Indies in an ODI Series.
India are coming off a successful 2–1 Win against England in ODIs unlike the West Indies who have been whitewashed by Bangladesh in Home.
The 3 Match ODI Series may not be a highly anticipated series but it promises to be an entertaining one for sure.