India vs West Indies 1st ODI Highlights: IND beat WI by 5 wickets as Rohit finishes the job from No.7

Hardik Pandya's workload has always remained a cause of concern for India. Although he has fared well after making a comeback last year, questions remain about whether he can bowl his full quota in ODIs. Former India cricketers Abhinav Mukund, Saba Karim, and Aakash Chopra believe there is no reason for Hardik to bowl 10 overs as India will anyway field six bowling options with either Jadeja or Axar certain to play at No.7. 

Don't be surprised if India pick both Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in the XI for the 1st ODI. In that case, there is room for only one specialist spinner. The fight will be between Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. At the moment, Kuldeep is ahead of Chahal in the race and he is certain to play but Chahal would be hoping to make a mark ahead of the World Cup.

One thing missing from India's pace attack during the Test series was raw pace, with Umran Malik's return to the ODI squad, there will be no shortage of that during the white-ball leg. The tearaway right-arm quick is certainly in the scheme of things as far as the Asia Cup and World Cup are concerned but in order to break into the final 15, he needs to put in some real performances against the West Indies. But first things first, will he play the first ODI? We hope so!

For all his pyro techniques with the bat and incredible consistency in T20s, Suryakumar Yadav has been mighty disappointing in ODIs. With an average of 24 in 23 ODIs scored at a strike rate of 102, SKY would be the first one to admit that he has been below par in the 50-over format. And in the Indian side, one can't afford to have a prolonged lull period as there are players waiting to upstage you. Considering KL Rahul is set to bat at No.5, Shreyas Iyer at the moment, is the frontrunner for the No.4 spot and if SKY has to change the perception then these three ODIs are his last chance as both Rahul and Iyer will return to the squad for the Asia Cup.

This is a really tough choice, to be honest. If Kishan and Samson were not competing for the keeper's slot then you would ideally want them both in the XI because of the different sets of skills they bring with the bat. Kishan is an opener and Samson can bat in the middle-order and also play the role of a finisher. But with Shubman Gill set to open with captain Rohit, there is no place for Kishan at the top of the order. If India pick him for the 1st ODI, he will have to bat in the middle-order, something he hasn't much in his white-ball career. Just by looking at the combination of this Indian side, one would have to say, despite being ahead in the pecking order, Kishan might well miss out. And then again, Samson also deserves a fair run in the ODIs.

After not being able to qualify for the ICC World Cup 2023, the West Indies are looking for a course correction. The first big move that they have taken since then was to recall experienced cricketers Shimron Hetmyer and Oshane Thomas back in the ODI scheme of things. Two important cricketers, Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder were unavailable for selection. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the Test side. Young guns Kevin Sinclair and Alick Athanaze are expected to make a big impact. 

India pacer Mohammed Siraj has flown back home after being released from the ODI squad as he complained of ankle soreness. BCCI did not want to risk Siraj, considering the Asia Cup and World Cup are just around the corner. The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar did not name a replacement for Siraj.

India ODI squad for West Indies series: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.

West Indies ODI squad for India series: Shai Hope(w/c), Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Alick Athanaze, Rovman Powell, Keacy Carty, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Oshane Thomas, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair, Dominic Drakes, Yannic Cariah

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India vs West Indies 1st ODI at Bridgetown in Barbados. With Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja in their ranks, India definitely start as the firm favourites but don't count out a West Indies side comprising Shai Hope, Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer. The latter will have a point to prove after being left out of the World Cup qualifiers side.