India Vs West Indies: 3rd ODI Preview

The limited overs series now moves to the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound in Antigua for the next two ODIs. The hosts will be hoping that a change of venue will bring with it a change of luck. To be honest, they know that a second string India have hardly been tested so far.

Also Read: YuppTV To Stream India-West Indies Cricket Series Online

The squad for the third ODI did not have the dynamic opener Chris Gayle. They have rested Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul however, and brought in Danza Hyatt and Kemar Roach. This is actually not a bad thing as the Indians will be hit by real pace for the first time this tour. Now, what will be really interesting is the combination they will go in to this match. Roach should replace Rampaul while Andre Russell should come in for Dwayne Bravo. That leaves the batting too fragile, especially the lower middle order, and so expect Darren Bravo to reclaim his place in the middle order. The Windies have to take the initiative and so they should go in with the extra seamer. The big positive for them is that Lendl Simmons and Marlon Samuels are in good form and Sarwan has got back to back fifties. Their lower order batting needs to be more responsible but Kieron Pollard is just one knock away from finding form.

India have announced that they will go in with an unchanged side for this game. The ideal scenario from their point of view would be to wrap up the series here and look at giving the fringe players a go in the remaining two games. A relook at the batting order too is warranted as Yusuf Pathan and Badrinath have hardly had a knock in the middle.

It is crunchtime for the West Indies. It is now or never, in this do or die battle for the hosts. They have shown improvements over the Windies sides of recent times, but against Pakistan too, they lost the series in the first three games before winning the last two. Darren Sammy knows that his side has the potential to trouble India, and it’s just about getting all three departments to fire in the same game.

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