Wasim Jaffer picks India's XI for 1st ODI vs West Indies, includes two leg-spinners

After suffering a 0-3 whitewash in South Africa last month, Team India would be hoping to rediscover their rhythm in the upcoming three-match ODI series at home against the West Indies starting Sunday. The visitors might have lost the home ODI series 2-1 against Ireland not too long ago but, they seem to be riding high on confidence after getting the better of the top-ranked England side 3-2 in the T20I series last week.

As India prepare to take on the West Indies in the first One Day International at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, former Test batter Wasim Jaffer has picked his playing XI for the series opener. Interestingly, Jaffer has made a few notable omissions and also backed Mohammad Siraj to get a chance in the white-ball format after having made a tremendous impact in the longest format in the year gone by.

IND vs WI: Wasim Jaffer picks his Playing XI for the first ODI

While picking his XI for the first game against the West Indies on Sunday, Wasim Jaffer named Rohit Sharma and made Mayank Agarwal his opening partner with KL Rahul not available for this encounter. He then had batting icon, Virat Kohli, at number three, wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant at four and Suryakumar Yadav at number five respectively.

Interestingly, the much debated all-rounders’ slot was filled by Washington Sundar who bowls effective off-spin as well. However, he has been picked at number six and then five specialist bowlers to give an extra cushion to the skipper. Wasim Jaffer included two more spinners in Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi, both being leg-spinners. His pace bowling attack comprises Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar which also makes India bat deep.

Mohammed Siraj is the third seamer in Jaffer’s playing XI. At the same time, Wasim Jaffer also made it clear that young batter Prithvi Shaw should also have been included in the squad. Rohit Sharma will be back in action and this is the first time that he would be leading the Indian team in the 50-overs format as a full-time captain.  He missed the bilateral series against South Africa citing an injury and KL Rahul led India in the ODI series.

Here’s Wasim Jaffer’s India XI for 1st ODI vs WI: Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.

My team for first ODI:

Rohit (C)
Mayank
Virat
Pant
Surya
Sundar
Thakur
D Chahar
Bishnoi
Siraj
Chahal

What's yours?

PS: Prithvi Shaw should have been in the squad. #INDvWI

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 5, 2022