WI v IND, 1st ODI: India Opt to Bowl, Mukesh Kumar Makes Debut; Check Playing XIs

Barbados: India and West Indies are gearing up for a thrilling 3-match ODI series. The first two games will take place in Barbados, while Trinidad will host the third encounter. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team, while Shai Hope will be at the helm for West Indies.

The Indian camp boasts popular faces such as Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, while West Indies will rely on crucial players like Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, and Oshane Thomas. With India ranked third and West Indies tenth in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings, the competition promises to be intense.

The two teams have a history of 139 ODIs, with India securing 70 victories and West Indies winning 63. Thursday’s match is expected to be another close contest.

The weather report for the 1st ODI predicts a temperature of 28°C with 83% humidity and a wind speed of 21 km/hr. There’s a slight chance of precipitation at 20%.

As for the pitch report, the Kensington Oval offers a neutral wicket, favouring both batting and bowling departments. Spinners will likely play a crucial role during the middle overs. The average first-innings score on this pitch is 260 runs, and the team batting second has a strong 60% winning record at this ground.

Playing XIs