It is all about the 2027 ODI World Cup now. Every series that any team plays will be about putting things in place so that they have all bases covered by the time the first ball is bowled next October. West Indies have an extra box to tick given they have to run the gauntlet at the Qualfiier for the third successive time to make the ICC event.
India have played three ODI series this year and lost two of them. For various reasons- injuries, focus on the T20 World Cup which they won- they have struggled to put their first-choice team on the park and are once again without Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, the all-rounder who balances the XI and a once in a generation fast bowler.
For all the hoops they must jump through, it is unfathomable that India will line up without either of them in Southern Africa if they are even halfway ready to play.
Neither is with the ODI team at the moment which leaves the bowling side of things a little light. Back-up all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy– only recently at full fitness himself- might have to get used to bowling his full 10 overs. An opposition team might see that as opportunity.
West Indies have not won a bilateral 50-over series against India since 2006, and in India since 2002.
Barring a left-arm quick, they have depth in their attack with Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales offering swing and seam, Alzarri Joseph for middle-overs threat and Vitel Lawes for X-factor. Shai Hope shepherds a batting line-up that has promise.
These three ODIs- in addition to being valuable prep for bigger prizes in the future- have their own stakes.
In the spotlight – Virat Kohli and Alzarri Joseph
Virat Kohli is 59 runs short of 15,000 in ODIs and given he averages 66.50 against West Indies, there is a decent chance of history being made in Thiruvananthapuram.
The one-day game is his best format primarily because he is able to keep up a good rate of scoring without having to take risks. Still, there has been a noticeable trend lately of Kohli looking to up his tempo, relying on the same shots he always does- drives and flicks and pulls- just playing them in the air.
In six matches in 2026, he has a strike rate of 106.66 The only other year where he finished with a strike rate above 100 was 2018.
Alzarri Joseph and Daren Sammy had a falling out in public earlier this year over the fast bowler not playing the two Tests against Pakistan. At the start of this ODI series, the coach name-checked Joseph, highlighting that he is back in the team as a CPL champion.
Either the ice has thawed or Joseph has been true to his words: “I’m a professional, so I’m going to go to work. I am representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so for me, I’m neither here nor there in terms of a relationship.”
Team news
West Indies (probable) 1 John Campbell, 2 Justin Greaves, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Matthew Forde, 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Jayden Seales/Shamar Joseph, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Vitel Lawes
John Campbell will take his spot at the top of the order back after returning from surgery. Justin Greaves stepped in for him in two of the five ODIs against New Zealand in July and may partner him on Sunday.
It remains to be seen if Shamar Joseph, who has played nine 50-over internationals since his debut in 2024 and finished his quota of 10 overs once, can push for a place in the XI
India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Naman Dhir/Gurnoor Brar/Auqib Nabi, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Mohammed Siraj
India captain Shubman Gill is fit to play after taking a blow to the elbow in the nets. Several first-choice players are with the T20I side at the Asian Games, including Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel which opens up a balance issue here.
If India believe they can get 10 overs out of Reddy, they might go batting heavy with their XI, giving Naman Dhir a debut in the middle order. If they prefer bowling cover, they might stick with Gurnoor Brar or call up Auqib Nabi for his debut. (Cricinfo)
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
