ICC World Cup 2019: Match 34, India vs West Indies – Toss Report

India and West Indies will come with a purpose when they go up against each other on June 27 (Thursday) at the Old Trafford in Manchester. While India will look to take a step closer to the semifinals, West Indies will want to buy themselves some more time in this marquee event winning this time must-win tie.

Read More: ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (Match 33): New Zealand vs Pakistan – Statistical Highlights

India aim to solve middle-order woes

West Indies cricketers have produced individual brilliance like Carlos Brathwaite’s century in the last game but have lacked to come out as a team which have hurt them badly in this World Cup. Their chances of making it to the top four still hang by the wire and will aim to pull off a complete performance against an in-form team India. However, they will miss all-rounder Andre Russell who will miss the remainder of World Cup with a knee injury.

Also read: ICC World Cup 2019: Rohit Sharma In Line To Break MS Dhoni’s Record

On the other hand, India will look to strengthen their middle order before the business end of the tournament after struggling against Afghanistan spinners. The focus will be on MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav who failed to get going at Southampton. The bowling has been of high-class with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pack. Mohammed Shami, who is in the playing XI in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, will look to make another scintillating performance to give the management a headache of plenty.

Date and Venue: India vs West Indies, June 27 (Thursday) at 3:00 PM IST, at the Old Trafford, Manchester

Toss Report

India skipper Virat Kohli has won the toss and opted to bat first against West Indies at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

Here is what the captains said,

Virat Kohli

We are gonna bat first. Looks like a hard surface. We got two wrist spinners and Kedar Jadhav is the third spinner. It’s a used pitch, we see it slowing down. There are few rough patches at the right spots for our wrist spinners. A lot more application, understanding the situation. When there’s a 50-60 p’ship, make it into a big one. I think closing out situations and capitalising on them will be the key. Same team.

Jason Holder

We would have liked to have bowled too, but if the pitch will do anything, it will probably be first up. Two changes for us: Sunil Ambris and Fabian Allen are in, for Ashley Nurse and Evin Lewis. Evin’s struggling for the last couple of days. We are getting closer. Today’s another opportunity.

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Playing XI

India:  Lokesh Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(c), Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni(w), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope(w), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder(c), Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas