India vs West Indies, 1st ODI: Match Preview, Playing XI and broadcast details

A victory or loss against West Indies in the ODI series-opener notwithstanding, India is on the cusp of making history, and that India will make as soon as they step onto the field on February 6.

Sunday’s is going to be India’s 1000th ODI and they will be the first-ever to achieve the landmark. While the momentous occasion called for special preparations, there will be none and the colossal Ahmedabad stadium will wear a desolate look, with zero allowance to the member of the public to witness the proceedings in person thanks to the third wave of pandemic India is in the midst of.

The occasion certainly adds to the context of the game even as in the days of ICC ODI Super League, the 50-over format is not bereft of it. But, for all its contextualisation, the format has flown under the radar in the pandemic era dominated by Tests and T20Is. ODIs, however, are regaining pace with the approaching 2023 ODI World Cup, to which the ICC Super League provides a direct qualification pathway.

Unlike India’s last ODI assignment – a standalone bilateral affair against South Africa where they were blanked 3-0, the coming three-game assignment does count towards the ODI Super League. But to that end, it is Kieron Pollard’s men who should have concerns and not Rohit Sharma’s, with India having an automatic qualification against their name by the virtue of being the hosts for the 2023 event.

That said, the wounds of three defeats on the trot at the hands of the Proteas would not mind some ointment in form of wins at home, where India are as dominating as any team anywhere. But the hosts have taken blows even before the first ball of the series is delivered as they will be without some key personnel in Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who are three of the total seven members from the Indian camp to have contracted Covid-19.

There is more than that the returning captain Rohit Sharma will miss at least in the series-opener, with KL Rahul, who helmed the team in his injury-enforced absence in South Africa, missing out due to family commitments. India’s unending talent pool depth means they have ample replacements to fill in for those missing out, as India can potentially hand three debut caps on Sunday: Shahrukh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi and Deepak Hooda.

While Shahrukh and Hooda will be expected to infuse fearlessness with their hard-hitting abilities in a middle-order that appeared wanting in South Africa, Bishnoi would be expected to gel well with other spinners – Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar, who is coming back to the international fold after March 2021 following a finger injury – to solve India’s inability to pick enough wickets in the middle-overs, which was one of the major reasons behind their failure in South Africa.

Meanwhile, West Indies, currently in the automatic qualification zone as they are placed seventh in the ODI Super League points table, dropped points in home games against Ireland, who shellshocked them with a 2-1 defeat last year. In this series, however, they come on the back of a brilliant 3-2 home T20I series victory over England.

Much like India, who have quite a few returnees coming after varied periods of absences, West Indies have some too in Kemar Roach, Brandon King, Nkumrah Bonner and Darren Bravo, who last played 50-over cricket in August 2019, January 2020, January 2021 and July 2021, respectively.

West Indies remain a side to expect the unexpected from. If they can click and capitalise on the right moments, they could well end up denting India’s poor recent ODI record: they have lost 10 of their last 15 completed fixtures.

Pitch and conditions 

The surface in Ahmedabad is expected to assist the batters, however, there will be plenty of exploit for spinners, aided by big ground dimensions. Expect the new ball to nip around a bit. With winters not yet finished in India, there could be dew at night, which will make chasing a preferred option. Although, the defend-chase record at the venue is quite poised at 12-11 in 23 games.

Playing combination for India vs West India

India

Rohit Sharma confirmed on match eve that he will be opening alongside Ishan Kishan, who has been added to the ODI squad alongside Shahrukh Khan. He emphasised regrouping Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, but that might not happen as early as Sunday should India decide to hand a debut cap to Ravi Bishnoi; either one in Deepak Hooda or Shahrukh Khan is in line for his debut too, in the Covid-hit team.

In the rested Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s absence, Mohammed Siraj will have to take the responsibility of leading the attack alongside pace all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar.

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda/Shahrukh Khan, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi/Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

West Indies

Roach is expected to be slotted in alongside Alzarri Joseph and Odean Smith, while it remains to be seen whether West Indies will give Darren Bravo a look-in in the middle-order including Nicholas Pooran and Shamarh Brooks.

Predicted XI: Brandon King, Shai Hope (wk), Nicholas Pooran, Shamarh Brooks, Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh, Akeal Hosein, Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Odean Smith

IND vs WI Head-to-Head

Played – 133 | India – 64 | West Indies – 63 | Tied – 2 | NR – 4

IND vs WI Broadcast details

Match Timings – 1:30 PM IST

TV – Star Sports Network

Live Streaming – Disney+Hotstar