West Indies vs India Prediction: India will be aiming for another series win

West Indies will be facing off against India in the first ODI of the Indian tour of West Indies at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. West Indies have failed to get a place in the World Cup held later this year. They will be looking to show that it was a blip and they have significant mettle in ODIs. Who will win this game?

In recent years, the ODI format has been challenging for the West Indies, with missed opportunities to directly qualify for the ODI World Cup through the Super League and the failure to secure a ticket to India via the Qualifiers held in Zimbabwe earlier this year. Now, the team's focus is on rebuilding, and this series marks the first step towards that goal.

West Indies has made changes to the Test squad, bolstering their lineup to take on the in-form Indian team. Under the leadership of Shai Hope, the squad comprises a mix of seasoned and emerging batsmen, including Rovman Powell, Alick Athanaze, and Brandon King. Shimron Hetmeyer, who hasn't played an international ODI since July 2021, makes a comeback due to his impressive performance in the IPL.

Shai Hope has scored 377 runs in his last nine matches, while Brandon King has managed 436 runs in his previous nine outings. If both batsmen can get settled, it may open opportunities for late-order hitters like Shimron Hetmyer to make a significant impact.

Furthermore, all-rounder Gudakesh Motie gets a chance after recovering from an injury. To strengthen their pace attack, West Indies has included Oshane Thomas and Jayden Seales, who will join forces with Dominic Drakes, Alzarri Joseph, and Romario Shepherd. The spin attack features Yannic Cariah and Kevin Sinclair.

As it is a World Cup year, every 50-Over match carries great importance. The fact that West Indies has not yet qualified for the event could serve as motivation for the team to prove themselves. Despite their struggles in the 50-Over format for a considerable period, expect the West Indies to raise their intensity and put up a determined effort.

Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Shai Hope (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Keacy Carty, Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas, Alzarri Joseph

Following their dominant performance in the Test series against West Indies, India aims to replicate their success in the limited-overs format.

For the ODI series, India has retained a significant portion of its core team and hopes for excellent performances from the players. Rohit Sharma will lead the team and is likely to open the batting alongside Shubman Gill, both of whom displayed fluent batting in the second Test and seem to be in good form. Virat Kohli, who scored a century in the first innings, will play a crucial role at the number 3 position.

Gill boasts an impressive average of 78 in his last nine matches, while Virat Kohli maintains a close-to-60 average.

In ODI cricket, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain among the finest batters globally, and it won't be surprising to see one or both of them adding more centuries to their tally. Shubman Gill has also transitioned well to this format, displaying ease with his batting.

Ishan Kishan is likely to secure a spot in the playing XI alongside Suryakumar Yadav, while the presence of all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja will strengthen the team's batting depth, which is of world-class quality.

Turning to the bowling department, Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace attack alongside Umran Malik and Shardul Thakur, while Yuzvendra Chahal is expected to be preferred over Kuldeep Yadav. Siraj's recent experiences bring invaluable expertise, but Malik and Thakur will need to work hard to make an impact.

Chahal, known for his spin bowling prowess, will relish facing a West Indian team that has struggled against spin in the past. If Kuldeep Yadav is included in the playing XI, he should be considered a strong contender for taking wickets, even though he may be a bit expensive at times.

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal

Historically, the pitch at Kensington tends to favour the bowlers and is not particularly batsman-friendly. The average first-inning score on this ground is 229. However, in the most recent match played here, an unusually high total of over 600 runs was scored. During the early stages of the match, the fast bowlers are likely to find some assistance, while the spinners will come into play as the match progresses into the second innings. The weather forecast suggests warm and humid conditions, with temperatures reaching around 30 degrees Celsius. West Indies have not had the best of last month or two and we expect thier misery to continue in this game as well. Expect India to win this game comfortably.