SportsTime
  • Cricket
  • Cricket World Cup 2023
  • Football
  • Other Sports
  • Events
    • Major League Soccer 2023
    • Cricket World Cup 2023
    • EPL 2023-24
    • Big Bash League 2023
    • CPL 2023
    • Asia Cup 2023
    • The Hundred 2023
    • MLC 2023
  • Fantasy Tips
No Result
View All Result
SportsTime247

Deepak Hooda set for debut, Sundar to return: India’s probable Playing XI for 1st ODI vs West Indies

Indian management is forced to make a couple of changes as 4 players including Shikhar Dhawan have been tested COVID positive.

Bhowal Sohamby Bhowal Soham
Reading Time: 3 mins read
February 5, 2022
1.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda likely to play 1st ODI (Pic - Twitter)

India are set to square off against West Indies in the first of the 3-match ODI series on Sunday at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. The series holds great significance for India, primarily in the fact that this assignment will mark the start of Rohit Sharma’s full-time captaincy in the white-ball format. In this article, we will be previewing that all-important match from the home team’s perspective and analyze India’s playing XI for the first IND vs WI ODI. 

The Openers

As previously mentioned, Rohit Sharma will be making a comeback to the Indian side with the added responsibility of captaincy on his shoulders this time around. His inclusion would also see him feature at the top of the batting order as the team’s de facto opener. Partnering with him for the first game would be Mayank Agarwal.

It’s interesting to think that a combination of COVID-19 cases to Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, and a familial obligation for KL Rahul would allow Mayank, someone who wasn’t even originally selected in the squad, to partner captain Rohit at the top of the order. 

Former captain Virat Kohli will continue to feature at the one-down position; while his ardent fans would be crossing their fingers for that elusive 71st international century to finally arrive. The number 4 spot- a position that has been the Achiles heel of the team for some time now- presents some very interesting options. Having tested COVID positive, the incumbent Shreyas Iyer is likely to stay out of contention for the first match; which means that anyone of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, or Deepak Hooda could have a chance batting two-down.

Middle Order

At the moment, Surya seems to be the most likely option, thanks to the like-for-like attributes that he has to offer. However, depending on the situation, the think-tank could also be tempted to take a punt with Rishabh Pant at number four like they did in the second ODI against South Africa a few weeks ago. But with all the batter unavailabilities, newbie Deepak Hooda is virtually guaranteed to make his ODI debut. His part-time spin bowling would offer good support to the spin-bowling duo of Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal. 

Speaking of whom, ‘Washi’ looks well set to make his comeback in the white-ball team with this series. Factoring in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya from the lineup, his role as a lower-order batsman becomes all the more important. He, alongside Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur, will have to shoulder a good deal of the finishing responsibilities.

ALSO READ: Sourav Ganguly hints to host a franchise-based Women’s IPL in 2023

Bowling attack

As the most experienced bowler in this attack, Yuzi Chahal will have a lot resting on his shoulders, especially against a mercurial Windies batting lineup. At some point in the series, we might see the ‘Kul-Cha’ duo of him and Kuldeep Yadav playing together. But for the opening salvo, Washington Sundar seems to be the more likely candidate. Deepak Chahar will function as the team’s opening bowler, while Lord Shardul will bowl the overs in the middle.

For the final spot, the team would ideally like to go for a death overs’ specialist. Prasidh Krishna has been reasonably impressive across all the chances he has got in ODIs, but Mohammed Siraj’s stocks have been on a constant rise across all formats of the game. So expect him to play as the first-choice pacer.

Probable Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj.

Tags: India vs West IndiesTeam India
Bhowal Soham

Bhowal Soham

Related Posts

AUS vs IND 1st T20I: Preview, Probable XI, Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, and Where To Watch?
Cricket

AUS vs IND 1st T20I: Preview, Probable XI, Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, and Where To Watch?

by Chaithanya Gulapala
October 27, 2025
Rohit Sharma to Faf du Plessis: Five batters who scored the most ODI centuries against Australia
Cricket

Rohit Sharma to Faf du Plessis: Five batters who scored the most ODI centuries against Australia

by Chaithanya Gulapala
October 26, 2025
Ravi Ashwin drops a cryptic post after India lose Kohli-Rohit comeback series to Australia
Cricket

Ravi Ashwin drops a cryptic post after India lose Kohli-Rohit comeback series to Australia

by Chaithanya Gulapala
October 23, 2025
AUS vs IND: Rain to play spoilsport? Check out hourly weather forecast for Adelaide ODI
Cricket

AUS vs IND: Rain to play spoilsport? Check out hourly weather forecast for Adelaide ODI

by Chaithanya Gulapala
October 23, 2025
Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in the 2027 World Cup? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar responds
Cricket

Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in the 2027 World Cup? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar responds

by Chaithanya Gulapala
October 18, 2025
Virat Kohli drops a cryptic post on social media ahead of Australia vs India ODI series
Cricket

Virat Kohli drops a cryptic post on social media ahead of Australia vs India ODI series

by Chaithanya Gulapala
October 17, 2025

Latest

AUS vs IND 1st T20I: Preview, Probable XI, Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, and Where To Watch?

AUS vs IND 1st T20I: Preview, Probable XI, Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, and Where To Watch?

October 27, 2025
Rohit Sharma to Faf du Plessis: Five batters who scored the most ODI centuries against Australia

Rohit Sharma to Faf du Plessis: Five batters who scored the most ODI centuries against Australia

October 26, 2025
Ravi Ashwin drops a cryptic post after India lose Kohli-Rohit comeback series to Australia

Ravi Ashwin drops a cryptic post after India lose Kohli-Rohit comeback series to Australia

October 23, 2025
AUS vs IND: Rain to play spoilsport? Check out hourly weather forecast for Adelaide ODI

AUS vs IND: Rain to play spoilsport? Check out hourly weather forecast for Adelaide ODI

October 23, 2025
Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in the 2027 World Cup? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar responds

Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in the 2027 World Cup? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar responds

October 18, 2025
Virat Kohli drops a cryptic post on social media ahead of Australia vs India ODI series

Virat Kohli drops a cryptic post on social media ahead of Australia vs India ODI series

October 17, 2025
Suryakumar Yadav picks Team India's best captain, picks top batters across formats

Suryakumar Yadav picks Team India’s best captain, picks top batters across formats

October 17, 2025
Rumours around Virat Kohli’s IPL future have once again set social media abuzz. Many fans started to believe that the former India captain might step away from

Mohammad Kaif Breaks Silence on Virat Kohli’s RCB Future Amid Exit Rumours

October 15, 2025
Gautam Gambhir Slams Ravi Ashwin and Kris Srikkanth for targeting Harshit Rana over Selection

Gautam Gambhir Slams Ravi Ashwin and Kris Srikkanth for targeting Harshit Rana over Selection

October 14, 2025
Ravindra Jadeja breaks silence after ODI snub

Ravindra Jadeja breaks silence after ODI snub

October 13, 2025

No Result
View All Result
  • Cricket
  • Cricket World Cup 2023
  • Football
  • Other Sports
  • Events
    • Major League Soccer 2023
    • Cricket World Cup 2023
    • EPL 2023-24
    • Big Bash League 2023
    • CPL 2023
    • Asia Cup 2023
    • The Hundred 2023
    • MLC 2023
  • Fantasy Tips

© 2020-23 Sportstime247