Will Sanju Samson Get a Game? Here's India's Playing XI For 1st ODI vs West Indies
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will spearhead the Indian batting [Twitter]
After securing an emphatic 1-0 series win in the recently concluded Tests, India will cross swords against West Indies in a three-match ODI series starting this Thursday. This series is significantly important from India's perspective, as it will help them prepare for the upcoming ODI World Cup on home soil later this year.
So, as India gear up for the series, let's see how their playing XI will look like in the first ODI at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Top-Order: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli
The Indian top order will comprise three obvious picks- Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. While Gill will open alongside skipper Sharma, Kohli will be slotted at number three. India have two other potential top-order options, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan, but they won't likely get a game unless India bag the series by winning the first two fixtures.
Middle Order: Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja
Sanju Samson will play as the wicket-keeper [Twitter]
The unfortunate injuries to Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer has opened the doors for the dynamic Suryakumar Yadav, giving him a golden opportunity to revive his ODI career prior to the World Cup. Same goes with Sanju Samson, who has received a recall for this much-anticipated tour. While Yadav will bat at number four, Samson will be slotted at number five in the playing XI.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja will play as two all-rounders, slotted at number six and seven, respectively.
Bowlers: Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
Coming to the bowling department, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj are certain starters as two frontline seamers. There will be a toss-up between three candidates- Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat and Umran Malik- for the third seamer's slot, with India likely to prefer Malik for the role, considering the express pace he brings to the table.
Meanwhile, left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav will likely pip his partner-in-crime Yuzvendra Chahal and lead the Indian spin department.
India's Playing XI For 1st ODI vs West Indies
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
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