With senior players rested, Shikhar Dhawan’s India look to dominate West Indies

Several regular players, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma, have been rested for India’s three-match ODI series against the West Indies, beginning at the Port of Spain on Friday. 

In the absence of key players, Shikhar Dhawan, who now plays only ODIs, will lead the Men in Blue only for the second time. India come to the West Indies series after registering a thumping 2-1 win over Jos Buttler’s England. 

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Dhawan scored 31, 9 and 1 runs against England. The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill and Deepak Hooda did not play the series. It will be interesting to see who opens alongside the skipper. Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Gaikwad are India’s premier options for the job. 

West Indies came to India for three ODIs and as many T20s in February and the two teams meet again for a total of eight limited overs games (five T20s).

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The in-form Deepak Hooda is expected to bat at number three and Suryakumar Yadav is also a certainty in the playing eleven, which leaved the management to decide among Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson.

Prasidh Krishna and Mohammad Siraj are expected to start as the two frontline pacers.

Since the 2019 World Cup, they have managed to bat full 50 overs just six times in 39 innings and that should be a concern for the side.

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Squads: India: Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohd Siraj and Arshdeep Singh.

West Indies: Nicholas Pooran (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell and Jayden Seales.

Match starts: 7 PM IST.