By Ravendra Madholall
West Indies will be hoping to change their fortune in the limited-over version from Friday against India at the Queen’s Park, Oval, Trinidad and Tobago.
After they were beaten by less-fancied Bangladesh recently also on home soil and currently ranked number 9 in comparison to India who hold that number 3 spot, the boys in the maroon have got to come good in every aspect for their three-match series.
Prior to their devastation against Bangladesh, West Indies suffered the indignity of a series loss to hosts Pakistan, 0-3, too.
India have shown good strength versus England recently winning the three-match one-series, 2-1 and that certainly should boost their confidence tremendously for this overseas assignment.
Their outfit is completely different as a plethora of their high-profile players will be missed due to much-needed rest.
That is something for West Indies who are undoubtedly cognizant of and can press hard against them to rekindle their form.
Reminiscing of that series against Pakistan and Bangladesh only says that the batting could not have found enough rhythm as they folded meekly on every occasion.
It unfortunately lacked potency and against a buoyant Indian side, they need to fire in all cylinder.
Skipper Nicolas Pooran will have to lead from the front and good for him he ended with a well-played 73 against Bangladesh at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
The other batsmen, who are seasoned campaigners, must come to the fore with more substantial performances.
Opener Shai Hope has the ability to make a big impression and his opening companion Kyle Mayers is also a batsman with the right temperament for their abbreviated version.
The Barbadian Mayers has shown consistency in every format and that should able to motivate his teammates to churn good performances.
Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Rovman Powell and Keacy Carty are all capable now to do something special for their team. While King, Brooks, Powell are matured enough now, Carty along with the returned Jason Holder and Keemo Paul can contribute too in the batting department.
Holder and Paul along with the two quickies Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales can make early impact while left-arm spinners Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie bringing formidable variations on a pitch that is expected to be responsive.
Meanwhile, India and West Indies will play all three one-days at the same venue before they collide in a five-match T20 series soon after across the Caribbean and North America (Fort Lauderdale).
WEST INDIES FULL SQUAD: Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Shai Hope (Vice Captain), Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakes, Motie, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales.
Reserves: Romario Shepherd and Hayden Walsh Jr.
India ODI Squad: Shikhar Dhawan (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-capt), Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.