Big picture
The first ODI in Barbados lasted all of 45.5 overs. What did we really learn from Thursday’s fixture? Nothing new. Despite the absence of a number of a senior seamers, India skittled West Indies for 114. They were so dominant that they didn’t need Virat Kohli with the bat. They barely needed Rohit Sharma with the bat. They could afford to demote Kohli to No.8 and bump Shardul Thakur up to No.6.
At the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, coach Daren Sammy insisted that he had inherited this squad. This is now his chance to leave an imprint. Sammy has successfully rehabilitated St Lucia Kings in the CPL, but it won’t be as easy doing the same with an international cricket team, especially in the middle of a series against India. In the absence of Pooran, it’s up to Shimron Hetmyer to step up and counter India’s left-arm spinners.
For India, the second ODI is another opportunity to shake things up in the lead-up to the World Cup. Will Sanju Samson get a look in? Can Umran Malik slot into Prasidh Krishna’s role as the enforcer in the middle overs? Can India also fit Yuzvendra Chahal in their XI and reunite him with Kuldeep Yadav?
Form guide
West Indies LLWLL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
India WLLWW
With Rovman Powell particularly vulnerable to wristspin – and spin in general – West Indies might consider bringing in Keacy Carty, who has innings construction – and reconstruction – skills in ODI cricket. With Joseph’s workload being managed and with Jayden Seales just making his way back from knee surgery, Oshane Thomas could get a game at some point in this series.
West Indies (probable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Kyle Mayers, 3 Alick Athanaze, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Rovman Powell/Keacy Carty, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Dominic Drakes, 9 Yannic Cariah, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Jayden Seales/Alzarri Joseph/Oshane Thomas
Samson’s exclusion was the major talking point in the ODI series opener. It remains to be seen if India can find room for him in their XI and give him a decent run in the lead-up to the home World Cup.
India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Sanju Samson/Ishan Kishan (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Umran Malik, 11 Mukesh Kumar
