India's Probable 15-Man ODI Squad For The Tour Of West Indies

After a disappointing World Cup exit, India will tour the West Indies for three T20Is, as many ODIs and two Test matches. India will begin the tour with three T20I matches from August 3. Subsequently, India will play three One Day Internationals against West Indies with the first match to be played on August 8. The Indian team also will play two Test match series which will part of the Test championship for the 2019-21 cycle. We take a look at India’s probable 15-man squad for the tour of West Indies.

It was earlier reported that Virat Kohli would be rested for the tour. However, latest reports suggest otherwise. MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to be rested from Carribean tour.

Here is India’s probable 15-man squad for the tour of West Indies.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma had a dream World Cup as he scored 648 runs in the tournament. The right-hander was at his best as he scored five centuries in the World Cup, which is the most for any batsman in a single edition of the event. Kohli is expected to be rested and thus Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the 50-overs format. Sharma will like to continue his good form going and he has done a fine job in the leadership role of the team.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan was unfortunate to miss out of the World Cup due to a fractured thumb. The southpaw had scored a fine hundred in the second match against Australia but he was ruled out later. Dhawan had scored a fine knock of 117 runs against the defending champions. Consequently, Dhawan will like to make a roaring comeback into the game. Dhawan has been a consistent performer for the side and he would like to hit the ground running upon his return.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli will be looking to hit the ground running after the disappointing exit from the World Cup. A lot of fingers have been pointed at Kohli’s captaincy and the India skipper would be desperate to put that criticism to bed.

Shreyas Iyer

India’s talented Shreyas Iyer has been a consistent run-getter in the domestic circuit. Furthermore, he had led Delhi Capitals with aplomb in the IPL and the Delhi franchise was able to make it to the playoffs after six years. Iyer has been in decent form and it would make sense to invest in him. Moreover, the right-handed batsman scored a fine knock of 77 runs in the first unofficial ODI against West Indies A for India A. It was a difficult pitch to score runs but Iyer was able to show resistance.

Rishabh Pant (Wk)

It is expected that Rishabh Pant will take the wicketkeeping gloves once MS Dhoni hangs his boots from International cricket. Pant has impressed with his pyrotechnics and he has grabbed his opportunities in the Test matches. However, the southpaw batsman is yet to make a big score in the One Day format and he would like to impress on the Windies tour.

Pant has the skills to hit the ground running and he can catapult his attack on the opposition from the get-go. The left-hander will need to play according to match situations as he can play rash shots. However, Pant is expected to get better with experience.

Shubman Gill

There is no doubt that Shubman Gill is going to be the future of Indian cricket. The right-hander had also impressed while playing in the Indian Premier League for Kolkata Knight Riders as he scored 296 runs in 13 matches. Gill was given his opportunity on the New Zealand tour but he could not grab it with both. However, the right-hander had a sublime domestic season for Punjab as he scored his runs consistently in the Ranji trophy. Hence, Gill is expected to be in India’s ODI squad.

Vijay Shankar

All-rounder Vijay Shankar also didn’t have the rub of the green on his side as he was ruled out of the World Cup due to a toe injury. However, Shankar is expected to recover before the Windies tour. Shankar has impressed with his technique but he hasn’t made a substantial score. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder scored 58 runs in the three innings of the tournament. Shankar had struck on his first ball as he was able to plumb Imam-ul-Haq in front of the wickets. The right-arm medium pacer took two wickets against Pakistan.

Krunal Pandya 

The southpaw all-rounder has done a fine job in the domestic circuit. In fact, Pandya has also impressed with his performances for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. The left-hander scored 183 runs in the 15 innings for the defending champions. The southpaw spinner also took 12 wickets in the 16 innings for Mumbai Indians. Krunal Pandya is also with India A team which is currently on the tour of the Windies. Thus, Pandya is expected to be on the tour of the West Indies.

KL Rahul

The stylish KL Rahul was India’s third highest run-getter of the World Cup as he scored 361 runs in the tournament with an average of 45.12 and strike rate of 77.47. Meanwhile, Rahul hasn’t been able to convert his starts into a substantial score. The right-hander would like to grab his opportunities with both hands as he is yet to come up with consistent performances in the ODI format. Rahul was cautious in his approach in the World Cup and he would like to play his natural game on the Windies tour.

Ravindra Jadeja

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was at his best in the World Cup semifinal. Jadeja had scored a blistering knock of 77 runs from 59 balls against New Zealand. The southpaw batsman was able to hit the ground running against the Kiwis and it was his best knock in the ODI format. Hence, Jadeja will look to continue his good form going in the ODI version of the game. Jadeja had also delivered the goods with the ball and it is well known that he is a gun fielder.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar had done a decent job with the ball in the World Cup. The Indian fast bowler took 10 wickets in the six matches of the World Cup. Kumar has the skills to move the ball both ways and he is going to hold the key for the Indian team. In fact, it is noted that Kumar has lost out on pace in the recent past and he would like to get going. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will like to deliver the goods on the West Indies tour.

Mohammad Shami

The talisman fast bowler was right on the money with his line and length in the World Cup. Shami bowled with brisk pace in the tournament as he breathed down the neck of the opposition. The Indian pacer scalped 14 wickets in the four matches of the competition. Shami will like to continue his good form going on the West Indies tour. Shami has made an inspiring comeback into the ODI format and he would aim to be at his best.

Kuldeep Yadav

The southpaw spinner hasn’t been in the best of forms in the recent past. The mystery spinner will like to pull up his socks on the West Indies as he had a mundane World Cup. Kuldeep Yadav scalped six wickets in the seven matches of the World Cup and he would like to make a solid comeback. In fact, the mystery spinner also had an ordinary Indian Premier League as he took four scalps in the nine matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Yuzvendra Chahal

The leg-spinner has done a good job for the Indian team. Chahal scalped 12 wickets in the eight matches of the World Cup. Hence, Chahal would aim to hit the straps on the tour of West Indies. In fact, Chahal had a good Indian Premier League as he took 18 wickets in the 14 matches for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Chahal hasn’t been at his best in the recent past and he would like to make a good comeback on the Windies tour.

Navdeep Saini

The fast bowler has impressed in the domestic circuit for Delhi. Saini has impressed with his pace and he would aim to hit the straps for the Indian team if he gets a chance. The gun fast bowler can consistently bowl above 145 km/h and he would aim to get going. Saini had scalped 11 wickets in the 13 matches of the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore. The pacer was also selected to bowl as a net bowler in the World Cup.