India's predicted XI for third ODI against West Indies

After decimating the West Indian team in the two-match Test series by 2-0, India kicked-off the ODI series in grand style as they chased a hefty total of 323 in just 42 overs (42.1 to be precise). They lunged onto the second ODI with the same set of confidence as they posted a mammoth target of 322 runs in front of the West Indian team. It was the combined effort of Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayadu that took India to a total of 321.

The target proved to be steep for Windies, but a doctored approach from Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope put the Indian bowlers on the back foot. Consequently, the match ended in a climactic tie while becoming the second of its kind for India in the last one month. Virat Kohli got the man of the match award for his record-breaking 157* off just 129 balls.

India has announced the squad for the remainder of the ODI series against West Indies. India's two premier fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, have been brought back to the squad. Besides, Mohammed Shami has been left out.

Hence, Indian management is expected to configure some changes in their playing XI for the third ODI. Thus, let us have a look at India's predicted XI for the third ODI against the Windies.

---

#1 Openers: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan

The Rohit-Dhawan pair has done wonders for India in the current schemes of ODI cricket. For quite a few years now, the camaraderie of Rohit and Dhawan has been the story of the Indian opening department in the ODIs. Thus, it seems highly unlikely that the Indian management will be tinkering this combination ahead of the third ODI.

Rohit Sharma, the only man to hit as many as three double centuries in ODI cricket, started the series on a positive note as he along with Virat Kohli cruised the Indian team to chase a hefty total of 323. His 152* off just 117 balls happened to be quite significant in the course of India's chase in first ODI. However, he failed to emulate the same in the second ODI against the Windies as he faltered on a meagre score of 4. Thus, cometh the third ODI, Rohit will look to make the most of it.

Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan didn't have a great start to the ODI series. While chasing a mammoth target of 323 in the first ODI, Dhawan failed to make substantial contributions as he played onto the stumps off the delivery of the then debutant Oshane Thomas on a deficient score of 4. However, he did cover that up with a blazing start in the second ODI, but he couldn't take it forward as Ashley Nurse caught him in front of the stumps for an lbw. Thus, Dhawan will look to reroute his form in the third ODI against the Windies.

#2 Middle-Order: Virat Kohli (C), Ambati Rayadu, and Rishabh Pant

Virat Kohli seems to be on a different planet altogether. Virat is the most inconsistent batsman when it comes to failing to pass the three-figure mark. So much so that, he has become the first choice player in any fantasy team. Unquestionably the best at the moment, Kohli started the series on a usual (centuries have now become a regular affair for Kohli) note as he once again along with Rohit hurried India to yet another successful chase in ODIs.

The Indian skipper carried the same form to the second ODI as he struck yet another century while also becoming the fastest 'human' to surpass the 10,000-run mark in ODIs. Thus, Kohli will look to run on the same lines in the third ODI as well.

Ambati Rayadu, India's prospective No.4 batsman ahead of the 2019 World Cup, is having a great series. Rohit and Kohli's centuries in the first ODI meant Rayadu didn't get much time in the middle. He made the most of it as scored 22* in a chase that was mastered by Rohit and Kohli. Nonetheless, India's middle-order was tested a bit in the second ODI as Rohit and Dhawan fell early.

Although Kohli was a significant part of the rebuilding phase in the second ODI, Rayadu had substantial contributions as he scored 73 off 80 balls which helped Indian to get in a commanding position in the middle overs. Thus, with every match important for World Cup preparations, Rayadu will be fielding his usual spot in the third ODI as well.

Rishabh Pant is having a decent exposure to ODI cricket in this series against the Windies. Although Pant failed to get a chance to bat in the first ODI, he got the desired break in the second ODI where he seemed confident.

Pant was set to announce him on the ODI stage, but a straightener from Samuels caught Pant in front of the stumps for an lbw on a score of 17. Nonetheless, the left-handed batsman will look to scout his opportunity in the third ODI.

#3 Wicketkeeper: MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni has had a mediocre 2018 as he has failed to contribute quantitatively for India in the batting department. Nonetheless, his qualitative contributions to the team are something that can't be cordoned-off while looking at his form with the bat. Hence, his place in the playing XI.

Much like Pant, Dhoni didn't get a chance to use his willow in the first game. However, the second ODI conferred him with the opportunity to reroute his form with the bat. Banking upon the chance, Dhoni had a great start to his innings, but unfortunately, he failed to carry the same ahead as the debutant Obed McCoy cleared his wickets on a score of 20.

Nevertheless, MS will look to follow the same lines in the third ODI while hoping for better performance with the bat.

#4 Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal

The spin-duo, KulCha, has been on an upward curve in the recent things of ODI cricket. They have been complementing each other very well. It is their quota of 20 overs that has helped the Indian team to contain the batsmen in the middle overs.

India didn't include Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the first ODI against the Windies. Nonetheless, India drafted Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the second ODI. His contributions proved to be vital for India in the second ODI as he scalped three wickets in his quota of ten overs while giving away 67 runs. Thus, Kuldeep Yadav is least likely to get the axing for the third ODI.

Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal has had a decent series thus far. In the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, Chahal was the torchbearer of the Indian bowling lineup in the first ODI where he grabbed three wickets in his quota of ten overs while giving away just 41 runs. Besides, he had a decent run in the second ODI as well where he gave 63 runs in his quota of ten overs while taking a wicket. Hence, he is expected to retain his place in the third ODI.

Thus, the spin-duo is most likely to field the playing XI in the third ODI as well.

#5 Pacers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, and Khaleel Ahmed

With India's premier fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, given a due amount of rest, the fast bowling duties had shifted to Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Khaleel Ahmed. Nonetheless, given India's inability to defend a mammoth total, the duo - Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar - has been called back to the squad.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has long been India's prominent fast bowler in the shorter formats of the game, especially in the ODIs. However, this year Kumar has struggled to continue his decent form owing to an injury to his lower back. Hence, as a precautionary measure, Kumar was rested for the first two ODIs against the Windies. Nonetheless, Kumar will alleviate the pressure with an improved performance in the remainder of the ODI series.

Jasprit Bumrah has been on an exponential curve in the recent things of ODI cricket, ODIs to be precise. With Bhuvneshwar missing a good part of 2018 due to injuries, Bumrah has turned out to be India's spearhead in the fast bowling department. Much like Kumar, the Indian team management decided to rest the Gujarati bowler keeping India's exhaustive schedule ahead. However, Bumrah is expected to shot to the playing XI for the third ODI after having included in the squad.

Khaleel Ahmed has had a decent time in his short career thus far. He rose to the occasion in the Asia Cup 2018 and hence Indian included him in the ODI squad for the West Indies series. He had a place in the playing XI for the first ODI where he scalped a solitary wicket while giving away 64 runs in his share of ten overs.

However, India decided to drop Khaleel from the second ODI playing XI while looking to field an extra spinner. Nonetheless, Khaleel might get a place in the third ODI with India deciding to go the full monty with their pace attack.