Match Preview – India vs West Indies, West Indies in India 2021/22, 3rd ODI
Both sides might be in a dilemma with the potential return of Shikhar Dhawan and Kieron Pollard in their respective XIs
Big picture
Since the start of the ODI series against South Africa, India have been talking about building a side for the 2023 World Cup. One of their pains in the last couple of years has been the lack of a wicket-taking seamer in the powerplay and middle overs. They changed their strategy in the third ODI against South Africa by picking a tall, hit-the-deck bowler in Prasidh Krishna, and continued with it in the West Indies series too.
Form guide
India WWLLL (Last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
West Indies LLLLW
In the spotlight
Team news
India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 KL Rahul, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Deepak Hooda/Suryakumar Yadav, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Mohammed Siraj, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Prasidh Krishna
Smith was impressive with both bat and ball in the second ODI. So if Pollard returns, West Indies will have a tough call to make. Can they retain Smith and leave out Bravo, who has had scores of 1, 18, 18, 0 and 2 in his last five innings?
West Indies (probable): 1 Shai Hope (wk), 2 Brandon King, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Shamarh Brooks, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Fabian Allen, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Kemar Roach
Pitch and conditions
The pitches so far have helped both seamers and spinners, and it will not be a surprise if that is the case on Friday as well. The temperature is expected to hover around mid to late 20 degrees Celsius for the majority of the match. There was no dew during the second ODI, and it could stay that way for the third as well.
Stats and trivia
Quotes
“I have been striving to get more consistent. When I started, I used to get excited and have too many emotions running through me. But over time, I have had my plans and I have been very clear on what I needed to work on.
Prasidh Krishna on the areas he has improved on since his debut last year
Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo