India Look For ‘Same Template’ In 1000th ODI
Ahmedabad, Feb 5: India will play their 1000th One Day International match when they take on West Indies here at the Narendra Modi Stadium on February 6.
The three-match series-opener will be a historic occasion as India will become the first international team to cross the four-figure mark.
Rohit Sharma, the new white-ball skipper, will return to lead India after missing the South Africa series due to a hamstring injury. In his absence, KL Rahul led India in the 0-3 loss to South Africa last month. However, Rohit said that “there is no need to panic just because we lost one series”.
Rohit, who replaced Virat Kohli as captain in white-ball format, stressed that he just have to take India forward from where Kohli left.
“We want to continue the same template. Need to adapt according to situations. There’s nothing that I need to change drastically.”
Rahul will miss the first game against West Indies. With both Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikward in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 and Mayank Agarwal still in quarantine, Rohit confirmed that Ishan Kishan, who was not part of ODI squad, will open with him. The first game could also see the return of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing XI together.
The 2019 ODI World Cup match against England was the last time when the ‘Kulcha’ duo played together for India. While Chahal got a few opportunities after India’s semi-final finish, Kuldeep missed out of action mainly because India wanted to try new combinations like having an extra batter or seamer in the line-up.
Kuldeep’s return was further delayed because of a knee injury which had also ruled him out of the second leg of IPL 2021. On the eve of the first game, Rohit backed the wrist spinners and said “it’s certainly on my mind to get them back together”.
Just like India, West Indies’ recent ODI record is not as compelling. They were whitewashed in Bangladesh (0-3) and lost to Australia (1-2) and Ireland (1-2). Since the series is part of the ICC ODI Super League, West Indies, who are at the seventh position in the points table, will aim to bounce back.
Meanwhile, India, being the hosts, have automatically qualified for the 2023 ODI World Cup. India squad:
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Mayank Agarwal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan. West Indies squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr.
