TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow UsAfter recording a win in the previous game, West Indies will have their tail up to try and win the ODI series from behind.
For an Indian side sans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, their frailties against spin again came to the fore in the second ODI. Gudakesh Motie notched up figures of 3/36 in 9.5 overs, which was to boot his 2/26 in 6.5 overs in the first encounter.
India were expected to experiment with their XI, and they did just that. The likes of Axar Patel and Sanju Samson were brought in to give them game time and an opportunity to put their hat in the ring for the World Cup squad. Unfortunately, barring the openers, none of the batters did anything of note, allowing Shai Hope and Co. to level the series.
Things to watch out for
Can Sanju Samson stamp his authority in Indian colors?
A crowd favorite, Samson has not been given a long enough rope throughout his career. Since his debut, he has never played over three consecutive games for the national side. With the World Cup just over two months away, time is fast running for the stylish right-hander.
Also read - Loss to West Indies reveals a chink in India's armor
What goes in his favor is his proficient game against spin. In the 50-over format, he averages over 85 and strikes at 111 while tackling spin. His dismissal to Yannic Cariah’s ripper was only his second dismissal to spin in ODIs.
India have averaged 27 against spin in this series, well below their performance against pace (36). It also doesn’t help that they have lost a wicket to spin every 23 balls, as opposed to in excess of 30 balls against pace. With no real update on whether KL Rahul or Shreyas Iyer will be fully fit for the World Cup, Samson coming good in ODIs bodes well for the Indian middle-order in the long term.
Shimron Hetmyer - Shai Hope’s only hope?
Outside the skipper, Hetmyer is the only other experienced batter in the lineup. After being left out of an unsuccessful World Cup Qualifier, this is Hetmyer’s shot at redemption. But, scores of 11 and 9 in the first two ODIs haven't really worked well for the hosts and the batter himself.
The southpaw has struggled against spin. Left-arm spin, in particular, has been his Achilles heel in ODIs. He averages a dismal 22.5 against deliveries by left-arm spinners turning away and in, and this trend has also continued in the ongoing series. If it was Ravindra Jadeja in the first ODI, it was Kuldeep Yadav in the second.
For Shai Hope’s West Indies to stand a chance to win the series, the Guyanese must come good and fast.
Spin trio to choke the West Indies
Hosting high-profile visitors has meant that not a lot of focus has been given to WI’s own problems. India’s issues against spin notwithstanding, the hosts themselves have fallen prey to spin repeatedly.
They average a paltry 12 and have not been able to score more than 4 RPO while facing spin. These numbers paint an even bleaker picture when you compare it with their game against pace. The corresponding numbers against pace stand at 32.4 and 5.6, respectively.
Given these numbers, West Indies will have a mountain to climb while facing India’s spin troika. Kuldeep has been at his wicket-taking best, while Axar Patel and Jadeja continue to be miserly. The WI captain will have to lead the way for his fairly inexperienced side while tackling spin in the final ODI.
Pitch and Conditions
The Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, Trinidad, will be hosting its first men’s ODI. The venue has hosted only men's T20I so far. Coincidentally, the T20I was between the same two teams in 2022 - a match where India ended up on the winning side.
Apart from the solitary men’s T20I, there have also been three women’s ODIs played at the venue. While the three W-ODIs were won by the chasing team, the men’s ODI was won by the team batting first.
There is some rain predicted on match day, so expect some interruptions during the game, just like the second ODI.
Tactical Nous
A spin-kill for Ishan Kishan
The Indian opener has scored quickfire fifties in each of his last three innings on this tour and has looked as good as ever. However, the aggressive opener has struggled to get going against off-spin.
If WI is to restrict the Indian batting lineup to a subpar score, getting the in-form Kishan out will be high on top of their priority list. He might be a negative matchup by conventional standards, but Motie will be central to these plans.
Predicted XIs
“We want to give newcomers as many chances as we possibly can,” is what the Indian coach had to say after the loss in the second ODI. In the spirit of experimentation, expect the Indian team to stick to the same combination as the previous game.
India: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (WK), Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
After a comprehensive performance in the previous match, it is unlikely that the hosts are going to tweak their combination. They will most likely go ahead with the same side in Trinidad.
West Indies: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope (C and WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Keacy Carty, Romario Shepherd, Yannic Cariah, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales.
