CIARAN MCCARTHY explores some of the likely themes to watch out for ahead of West Indies' ODI series against India
This series is an interesting one from an Indian point of view. Virat Kohli was recently removed as captain of the ODI side and has been replaced by Rohit Sharma, although KL Rahul led the side in South Africa in his absence.
On the other side, Kieron Pollard has captained his West Indies side in the format since 2019, and his tenure in the role has had its ups and downs, with his win rate sitting at 56.52 per cent.
Sharma has captained India in ODI cricket before. In fact, he has done so on ten occasions, winning eight. He has also had personal success while at the helm, hitting two hundreds and two fifties while captaining the ODI side, with a mammoth highest score of 208 not out in the role.
Despite being a more experienced captain, Pollard’s role has not afforded him as much personal success. The Windies skipper has four fifty-plus scores as captain, and three ducks.
Both men are skippering relatively inexperienced sides but have vastly different levels of experience in their leadership roles. The battle of the wits, as well as balancing their own performances with captaincy, will be an interesting watch.
Virat Kohli is no longer India's ODI captain [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]
Since making his international debut in 2017, Rishabh Pant has made a name for himself as a flashy, 360-degree batter as well as securing the gloves in all three formats. And while ODI cricket requires both poise and power, Pant often chooses the latter, striking the ball at 133.10.
He has been in some of the best form of his career over the past couple of years, averaging 77.50 in ODI cricket in 2021 and hitting his highest score in the format in a recent series against South Africa - 85 off 71 balls.
Visiting wicketkeeper, Shai Hope, is four years Pant’s senior and much more experienced. He has played 67 more games in ODI cricket and while he also possesses a good amount of power, he is much more a dignified touch player in 50-over cricket.
Hope averages 52.08 at a strike rate of 74.96, showing there is more than one way to skin a cat. The stumper is one of the Windies’ most crucial players, having hit 20 half-centuries and 10 centuries in the format.
He had one of the best years of his career in 2021, averaging 62 in ODI cricket, and has already passed 50 once in three innings this year.
Shai Hope [Randy Brooks/Getty Images] and Rishabh Pant [Francois Nel/Getty Images]
Having capable spin bowlers in ODI cricket has become essential and as such, India have recalled Washington Sundar to their squad. The off-spinner has played just one ODI for India but he has been a useful cog in the machine in the T20 side especially, averaging 30 in the format for his 25 wickets.
While he has not played much in the 50-over side, he is preferred to Ravichandran Ashwin, who misses out entirely.
He will also be expected to showcase his skills as an allrounder - he has a high score of 96 in international cricket, and while that was in a Test match, it represents an ability with the bat that India will be keen to see.
On the other side, West Indies will be looking to their now premier spin bowler Akeal Hosein to have an impact with the ball. The Trinidadian has taken 20 wickets in 12 matches during his ODI career and averages 23.40.
Hosein has also showcased his abilities with the bat, with a mesmerising bludgeoning of England’s pace attack at the back end of their second T20I in Barbados in January. He scored 44 from 16 at no.10 and his 72-run partnership with Romario Shepherd is a T20I record among full member nations.
Akeal Hosein [Randy Brooks/Getty Images] and Washington Sundar [Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images]
The lack of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who both featured against South Africa, means India’s strike bowling attack will be fairly inexperienced.
Mohammad Siraj will likely play a role in the series, as will Shardul Thakur. The pair have played 18 ODIs between them, with 17 of those played by Thakur himself. Siraj is yet to take a wicket in ODI cricket, though he has picked up four in T20Is. Thakur averages 40.21 with the ball in 50-over cricket, so the pair will be keen on making a real impact and staking their claim for a regular spot in the side.
Siraj, in particular, has the type of fiery attitude that will likely stand him in good stead going forwards and his pace could cause problems for the West Indian batters.
The West Indian pace attack, by contrast, has experience in truck loads.
Kemar Roach returns to the ODI side for the first time since 2019, coincidently also against India, while Jason Holder is a regular in the format.
The pair share a combined total of 216 games in ODI cricket, taking 265 wickets between them. Despite Roach having not played a lot of white-ball cricket of late, he is an adept bowler, and alongside another experienced campaigner in Holder, the West Indies pace attack is in safe hands.
Roach may also have lost a yard of pace since his heyday but he will be an asset as the West Indies look to pick up early wickets. Holder has shown time and time again that he is a top bowler in white-ball cricket, with his height and swing causing problems for batters, so the West Indies will likely have a decent series with the ball.
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