India take on West Indies in a three-match ODI series beginning tomorrow. India are coming off a disastrous South Africa tour while the West Indies are fresh off the back of a T20I series win over England. Four Wisden India writers pick the India XIs that they would like to see.
Aadya Sharma, Wisden India Editor
Ishan Kishan
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Suryakumar Yadav
Rishabh Pant
Deepak Hooda
Shardul Thakur
Deepak Chahar
Kuldeep Yadav
Mohammad Siraj
Yuzvendra Chahal
With Rohit Sharma confirming his opening partner, the top three isn’t a topic of debate anymore. Further down, Suryakumar Yadav gets in ahead of the isolating Shreyas Iyer (although I would have preferred the latter), while Rishabh Pant takes the gloves.
With no KL Rahul available for the first ODI, Deepak Hooda should get a chance in the middle order to prove his ‘finishing’ chops. Kuldeep Yadav hasn’t played much in the recent past, but in a four-way spin battle, his superior wicket-taking abilities can’t be discounted. Washington Sundar lends good balance, but he and Ravi Bishnoi will have to wait, for I’d give Yuzvendra Chahal an early go at getting his mojo back.
The seam unit looks healthy with Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur and Mohammad Siraj filling up the places, although I’d look to have Prasidh Krishna for one of the spots in the upcoming games.
Sarah Waris, Wisden India staff writer
Ishan Kishan
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Suryakumar Yadav
Rishabh Pant
Washington Sundar
Shardul Thakur
Deepak Chahar
Mohammad Siraj
Prasidh Krishna
Ravi Bishnoi
Though I would have liked Mayank Agarwal to open the innings, the lack of options and unavailability of players means the top five are more or less set.
Shardul fits in at six, with Sundar at six primarily to increase the batting depth. Kuldeep is currently short of confidence, and I would like to see the team encourage Sundar instead to see if he can fulfil the role. Chahar is a handy batter too, and given the circumstances, this seems the best balanced XI. Siraj is a must as well, while Prasidh deserves a longer rope.
Bishnoi is another player the team should try out, as the side looks to zero in on their spin attack for the 2023 World Cup.
Shubham Pandey, Wisden India social media manager
Ishan Kishan
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Rishabh Pant
Suryakumar Yadav
Deepak Hooda
Washington Sundar
Deepak Chahar
Ravi Bishnoi
Prasidh Krishna
Mohammad Siraj
Keeping in mind the Covid cases which have hit the India camp, Hooda is the best option at number six to create a better balance for the team.
Bishnoi has shown promising signs in the IPL and should make his debut over Chahal after his ordinary show with the ball in South Africa.
Siraj and Sundar should replace Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin respectively to give Rohit Sharma the luxury of having variety in the bowling attack.
I am excited to see Kishan at the top as I believe he can utilise the powerplay effectively and unsettle opposition bowlers from the first over. His fearless approach is what India needs in white-ball cricket.
Divy Tripathi, Wisden India staff writer
Rohit Sharma
Ishan Kishan
Virat Kohli
Suryakumar Yadav
Rishabh Pant
Deepak Hooda
Washington Sundar
Shardul Thakur
Deepak Chahar
Mohammad Siraj
Ravi Bishnoi
While the South Africa ODIs didn’t go as per the side’s expectations, they will hope that things will turnaround under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. I
I’d have Virat at his usual three, with Suryakumar at four and Pant at five. Bowling depth in the absence of Jadeja has been an issue in recent times so I’d like to see India pick a sixth option as cover should things not go to plan.
All-rounders Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar make up my numbers six and seven. Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur and Mohammad Siraj make up the pace attack, while I’d pick the young Bishnoi as the specialist spinner.
