Rohit Sharma returns to lead India in 1000th ODI

Overview

India v West Indies, 1st ODI
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
6 February, 01:30 PM local

India will play their 1000th One Day International when they take on West Indies in Ahmedabad on Sunday, becoming the first international team to cross the four-figure mark. Rohit Sharma returns to lead the Indian team after missing the South Africa series with a hamstring injury. KL Rahul, who led the side in Rohit’s absence in the 0-3 loss to South Africa in the ODI series last month, will, however, miss the first game of the series.

With Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 and Mayank Agarwal, who was later added to the ODI squad, still in quarantine, skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed to the media that Ishan Kishan would open the batting with him.

West Indies, meanwhile, come off the back of a 3-2 T20I series win against England and will hope to test their pool of players in conditions where they will play the next Men’s ODI World Cup in 2023. Veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach notably made a return to their ODI squad and could be in line to play the first game with Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Romario Shepherd, and Odean Smith being the other quick-bowling options in the Kieron Pollard-led side.

West Indies’ ODI record in the recent past, though, isn’t as compelling. They were whitewashed in Bangladesh (0-3) in early 2021 and suffered series losses to Australia (1-2) and Ireland (1-2), both at home. The latter, in particular, was a huge blow to the Windies, who are now seventh in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League points chart with 50 points. India, being hosts, have automatically qualified to the 2023 ODI World Cup, and the Super League points do not matter as much for them.

Remember the last time

The last time West Indies won a bilateral ODI series against India is way back in 2006. Since then, India have won 10 successive bilateral ODI series, only once losing more than one game in a series. The formidable record is even more daunting in India where the hosts last lost a series in 2002.

Notably, though, West Indies have always managed to win at least one game in a series in the bilaterals held in India.

What they said

Rohit Sharma (India captain): Ishan [Kishan] is the only option we have and he will open with me in the first ODI. Shikhar [Dhawan], Ruturaj [Gaikwad] and Shreyas [Iyer] are still in isolation. Mayank [Agarwal] was added to the squad and he is still in quarantine.

Jason Holder (West Indies all-rounder): Nothing is impossible. We've got to believe that nothing is impossible and continue to be happy for one another's success and continue to build as a team.