Team India is expected to announce their 16-player squad for the upcoming ODI series against West Indies in 2023. The series holds significant importance as a lead-up to the ODI World Cup 2023. The tour, spanning a month, will include 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 5 T20Is, with the ODI series serving as a bridge between the Test and T20I series, allowing senior players ample rest.
However, India faces a challenge in selecting the ODI series squad due to the absence of four key players who are currently recovering from injuries. Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah will not be available for the West Indies tour, opening up opportunities for younger players to step in.
With the squad announcement still pending, let’s analyze the potential players who could feature in the ODI series against West Indies. We’ll categorize them as batters, wicket-keepers, all-rounders, and bowlers.
Batters & Wicket-keepers for Team India against West Indies 2023:
The absence of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant poses a challenge in selecting the batters and wicket-keepers for the West Indies tour. To fill this void, India will likely give opportunities to two new players, primarily as finishers. Ishan Kishan is a strong contender as a backup wicket-keeper and opener. Additionally, Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, who have been serving as backup players in the Indian team, are promising options. They bring versatility to the middle order and possess wicket-keeping skills. However, if India decides to give opportunities to young talents, Tilak Varma or Rinku Singh could also be considered.
Apart from the new additions, Captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Virat Kohli are expected to lead the batting lineup for Team India in the ODI squad. Rohit, Shubman, and Virat form a formidable top-order, while Suryakumar Yadav’s talent is waiting to shine in the shorter format.
All-rounders for Team India against West Indies 2023:
The absence of Washington Sundar simplifies the selection of all-rounders for the Indian team. Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to be the first-choice all-rounders. Hardik and Jadeja will continue as the primary all-rounders for the team.
Bowlers for Team India against West Indies 2023:
For the ODI setup, there isn’t much debate in the bowling department. With Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna unavailable, Umran Malik and Shardul Thakur will continue to be given opportunities as backup pacers in the squad. They will be supported by Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are expected to lead, with the possibility of Ravi Bishnoi being selected once he gets a T20I squad recall.
Predicted ODI Squad for Team India against West Indies 2023:
Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Virat Kohli
Wicket-keepers: Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma, and Sanju Samson
All-rounders: Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja
Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, and Yuzvendra Chahal
India Tour of West Indies 2023 Complete Schedule:
1st Test, West Indies vs India: July 12-16, Windsor Park, Dominica
2nd Test, West Indies vs India: July 20-24, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
1st ODI, West Indies vs India: July 27, Kensington Oval, Barbados
2nd ODI, West Indies vs India: July 29, Kensington Oval, Barbados
3rd ODI, West Indies vs India: August 1, Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad
1st T20, West Indies vs India: August 3, Tauroba
2nd T20, West Indies vs India: August 6, Guyana
3rd T20, West Indies vs India: August 8, Guyana
4th T20, West Indies vs India: August 12, Lauderhill, USA
5th T20, West Indies vs India: August 13, Lauderhill, USA
FAQS
1. Which players are expected to fill the void left by the injured players in the Indian ODI squad for the West Indies tour?
Answer: With the absence of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant due to injuries, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Jitesh Sharma are likely candidates to step in and contribute to the Indian ODI squad for the West Indies tour.
2. Who are the key players in the Indian batting lineup for the ODI series against the West Indies?
Answer: The Indian batting lineup will be led by experienced players such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Virat Kohli. These players will play a crucial role in providing stability and firepower to the Indian team’s batting department.
3. What is the schedule for India vs West Indies 2023 tour?
Answer: The tour will consist of 2 Test matches, 3 ODIs, and 5 T20Is. The Test matches will take place at Windsor Park in Dominica and Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. The ODI matches will be held at Kensington Oval in Barbados and Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. The T20I series will start in Trinidad, then move to Guyana, and finally conclude with two matches in Lauderhill, USA.
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