India look to assert dominance against inexperienced Windies

Overview
India v Windies
1st ODI
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
Sunday, 21 October, 01:30 PM local time, 08:00 AM GMT

India will be bursting with confidence ahead of the five-match one-day international series against the Windies not only because they recently handed the visitors a drubbing in the two Tests but also because they've been in great form in the 50-over format, as evidenced by their victory in the Asia Cup 2018 in the United Arab Emirates.

India did lose the three-match ODI series in England by a 2-1 margin, but it was a closely-contested affair between the teams ranked No.1 and No.2 on the MRF Tyres ICC ODI team rankings.

Back in home conditions, India will be keen to assert their dominance and bridge the five ratings point gap with England. More importantly, with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 on the horizon, it provides both teams with opportunities to test and decide on team dynamics.

Windies' fortunes have been dwindling in ODI cricket – they had to compete in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers to book themselves a berth in the World Cup 2019. Their squad features plenty of new faces – Fabian Allen, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Oshane Thomas and Obed McCoy have never played international cricket.

This series provides them with the platform to make a mark on the international stage against one of the best teams on the international circuit.

In their most recent ODI assignment, Windies lost 1-2 against Bangladesh at home even though they boasted names like Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis opening the batting, neither of whom are in the squad for this series. It will be interesting to see how they make up for the absence of those two.

They will be up against a formidable bowling attack featuring names like Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav in the pace department, and a threatening spin attack with Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav in the ranks.

India look a lot more settled, and it speaks volumes of the depth in their ranks that they won the Asia Cup despite playing without their lead batsman, Virat Kohli. In the Tests, Kohli looked in exceptional form and the captain will be hungry to get going in the ODIs too.

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will be the openers, and with Kohli in at No.3, it makes for an excellent top-order. The middle-order, however, has mild areas of concern.

MS Dhoni has been a bit hot-and-cold in ODIs of late and he will want to return to consistent scoring ways. India have also included another wicketkeeper-batsman in Rishabh Pant and the uncapped youngster is set to get his shot at No.4, which has long been a problem area for India. One expects Dhoni to keep the gloves though.

For Windies, it will be extremely important that the established players such as captain Jason Holder, Marlon Samuels and Kemar Roach guide the way for an entire batch of upcoming cricketers, most of the whom are coming off productive seasons in the Caribbean Premier League. There is a lot of talent in the Windies ranks, and they will be raring to prove themselves.

Key players

Virat Kohli (India): The Indian captain is an obvious choice for the Most Valuable Player for India in part because he is the No.1 ranked batsman in ODIs and in part because he will be extra motivated to perform after being rested during the Asia Cup. Since taking over captaincy in early 2017 he averages a stunning 88.36 and will look to maintain and even better that average when he takes on the inexperienced Windies bowling attack.

Shimron Hetmyer (Windies): In his 12-match ODI career so far, the 21-year-old has already scored two centuries and a fifty. His century against Bangladesh at Providence came in tricky conditions, and helped set up a three-run win for his side. Despite the presence of Gayle and Lewis in that side, Hetmyer was comfortably the top-scorer for Windies in the series. He had a tough time in the Tests against India, though, but will look to set things right in the ODIs.

Conditions

It should be warm and sunny in Guwahati according to the weather forecast. As for the wicket, there should be something in it for quicks and spinners alike. The Barsapara Cricket Stadium has, to date, played host to just one international match – a Twenty20 International between India and Australia in 2017, which the visitors won after pacer Jason Behrendorff took 4/21.

Squads

India: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma (vc), Ambati Rayudu, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Syed Khaleel Ahmed

Windies: Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Oshane Thomas, Obed McCoy