West Indies, India to clash in opening ODI on Sunday

By Brandon Corlette

Fresh from a One Day International (ODI) series win against Afghanistan, West Indies will meet a formidable Indian outfit on Sunday, December 15, from 4:30h local time.

Despite losing the T20 Series 2-1 to India, West Indies have taken confidence in the experience gained, and will be aiming for a good showing in this three-match ODI series.
Prior to the ODI series’ win against Afghanistan, West Indies had last won an ODI series in 2014. Now, under the new leadership of Kieron Pollard and Head Coach Phil Simmons, the men in maroon have looked a more determined unit.
The stats against India are not in the West Indies’ favour; their last five matches against Virat Kohli and his team went downhill for the Caribbean boys. West Indies lost four of their last five matches against India, and the other encounter was a no-result.

The last time these teams met in ODIs, on August 14 in Port of Spain, India won by six wickets. West Indies racked up 240-7 in their allotted 35 overs in a rain-marred match, but Kohli’s rapid 114 from 99 balls took India across the line to win the series 2-0.

King Kohli reigns supreme
The World number one ODI batsman, Kohli has enjoyed an impressive record against West Indies. In his 36 matches against the men in maroon, he has scored nine centuries — the most he has scored against a cricketing nation.

The run machine has 2146 runs at an average of 76.64 against West Indies; and of recent, Kohli has been in sublime form in T20 matches against West Indies.
Without doubt, Kohli, who also has the most runs in ODIs in 2019, will be aiming to full his boots with as many runs as possible.
During the pre-match press conference, West Indies Assistant Coach Roddy Estwick called on West Indian batsmen to consider Kohli as a benchmark.

Hope’s Golden bat
Without doubt, Shai Hope is one of West Indies’ best batsmen, and he is certainly up there with the best. Hope sits in third position with 1123 ODI runs in 2019, behind India’s Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The Barbadian batting sensation, who plays with a level head, has recorded seven fifties and three centuries in ODI cricket this year. He trails Kohli’s 2019 ODI tally of 1288 runs by 165 runs.
The last time West Indies played an ODI in India was back in 2018, and Hope was among the standout performers in a series that West Indies lost 3-1, including a tied match. Hope scored 250 runs in that series, behind Shimron Hetmyer’s 259 runs, and it auditioned him for the 2019 IPL.
The Pollard-led ODI squad would welcome the likes of Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Hope, Roston Chase, Sunil Ambris and Alzarri Joseph. With Chase showing good form against a quality Afghanistan spin attack, he solidifies the middle order that includes explosive duo Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran.
Evin Lewis, who sustained an injury to his knee in the final T20, will remain a doubtful starter as the ODI series looms. India starts as favourites in the three-match ODI series.
West Indies’ ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, and Hayden Walsh Jr.
India’s ODI squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.