The West Indies cricket team will be hoping to continue the momentum and score their second consecutive win in the three-match ODI series as they will go against India in the final One Day International. The much-hyped battle of cricket is all set to be played at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain on Tuesday.
After suffering a big defeat in the first One Day International, the hosts made amends in the second game to level the series. The team made two changes to the playing XI by including Alzarri Joseph and Keacy Carty. The combination seems to have worked for them and they are likely to feature the same team on Tuesday.
As far as the Indian team is concerned, they are trying to find their perfect playing XI considering that the Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023 are scheduled for later this year. Keeping the same agenda in time, the management rested the batting maestro Virat Kohli and the skipper Rohit Sharma to make way for Sanju Samson and Axar Patel in the team.
The move did not reap good results, and India ended up losing the match. Since the Tuesday game will be a do-or-die fixture, the side is expected to play with their best XI.
What has happened so far?
So far in the three-match ODI series, India and West Indies have had their moments to shine on the 22-yard pitch. The Men in Blue made a terrific start to the series as they restricted the Windies to a score of 114 runs in their allotted 50 overs.
Following the bowling exploits by the spinner Kuldeep Yadav, the Indian batters struggled and lost their wickets quickly. However, the opening batter Ishan Kishan did not lose his composure and ended up playing a good knock of 52 runs to take his team home in 22.5 overs and score a win by five wickets.
The second One Day International saw a comeback by the West Indies cricket team as they restricted the Men in Blue to 181 runs. Again, Ishan was the only saving grace with 55 runs to his name. Following the score in the second innings, the host scripted a victory in 36.4 overs.
Shai Hope was the top performer for the team with a knock of 63* runs and he also took home the Player of the Match award.
Head to Head Record
India has an edge over West Indies in the head-to-head record
India and West Indies have featured in a total of 140 One Day Internationals against each other in the history of the gentlemen’s game so far. India has enjoyed an edge over West Indies as they have won 71 ODIs while the latter has scored a victory in 63 games. The four matches between the two teams did not fetch a result, while the two fixtures ended in a tie.
Key Players
Shai Hope (West Indies): The West Indies skipper led from the front in the second One Day International of the three-match series as his team levelled the scores against India by 1-1. When the Windies were chasing 182 runs in the allotted 50 overs, Hope came up with a brilliant knock of 63 runs. He faced a total of 80 balls in the middle and hit two boundaries and as many maximums.
Meanwhile, Hope’s international experience in One Day Internationals also makes him the most vital player for the hosts on Tuesday. The 29-year-old has featured in a total of 117 ODIs, so far scoring 4935 runs at an average of over 50 and a strike rate of over 76.
Virat Kohli (India): For India, Virat Kohli will be the man to watch out for. The former Indian skipper did not get a chance to bat in the first ODI while the team was chasing 115 runs as he gave an opportunity to the young guns to showcase their batting mettle. Meanwhile, the second match saw Kohli sitting on the bench along with the skipper Rohit Sharma as India gave the two experienced batters a rest to experiment with the playing XI.
India’s batting looked lacklustre without their former skipper as they ended up with only 181 runs in the second ODI. Virat was in a significant form in the longest format of the game as he smacked a century and the batter is likely to continue the excellent form in the ODIs as well.
Predicted XIs
West Indies: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope © (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Keacy Carty, Romario Shepherd, Yannic Cariah, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales
India: Rohit Sharma ©, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar
Prediction
The Indian cricket team ended up losing the chance of scoring an easy win in the One Day Internationals against the West Indies cricket team as they suffered a six-wicket in the second ODI of the three-match series. Despite the defeat, the visitors are the favorite to make a comeback and win the series by winning the final One Day International.
In all likelihood, the Indian team will strengthen by bringing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back into the team. Having said that, the West Indies team is likely to pose a good challenge in the final ODI to redeem their defeat in the two-match Test series by 0-1.