After starting their tour with a one off the T-20 win over the West Indies, a second string Indian Side will look to carry on the momentum in the 1st ODI at Queen’s Park Oval on Friday, June 6.
- Courtesy: www.espnstar.com
This is the first campaign for the No.1 after being victorious in the 2011 World Cup with key WC heroes like Tendulkar, Dhoni, Sehwag, Gambhir etc are missing from this squad with only Raina and Kohli being the two front line batsmen.
Bowling looks weak with their main spearhead Zaheer Khan being rested for ODI campaign. This responsibility will be carried out by Munaf Patel and Harbhajan, the only two front line bowlers.
Despite a weak team, India won their T-20 game with the help of Badrinath and Rohit Sharma while others got out cheaply which will be a concern for the dressing room.
West Indies is bolstered by the return of Dwayne Bravo, Sarwan and Pollard who will add some fire-power to the depleted Caribbean side though still the presence of Gayle and Chanderpaul would have been a different story.
The hosts lost an ODI series against Pakistan recently, but they won their last 2 successive games concluding the series on 3-2.
The form of Simmons and Darren Bravo is a good sign for the hosts.
Teams-
India- Suresh Raina (capt), Parthiv Patel(wk), Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, S.Badrinath, Y.Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma.
West Indies- Darren Sammy (capt), L.Simmons, Darren Bravo, M.Samuels, R.Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo, K.Pollard, C.Baugh (wk), R.Rampaul, D.Bishoo,A.Russel.
