ODI: India vs West Indies
Unlike the lead up to the first One Day International, this second ODI isn’t about context;it’s instead about chaos and combination.
India’s proud home record is under threat and they need to produce some ODI highlights if they are to stop a confident West Indies from claiming a series win at the ACA-VDCA Stadium.
It’s been over 15 years since India last lost two consecutive bilateral ODI series at home. They have also never lost five straight ODIs in India. But both those things may happen if they lose to West Indies in Visakhapatnam – they lost the last three matches to concede the series against Australia 3-2 in March.
All the pressure is on the hosts – but is that when they react best?
Talking Points
The last time an ODI was played – last year – in Visakhapatnam, India and West Indies battled hard for a tie. With West Indies needing five to win off the final ball, Shai Hope, who made 123, slapped a boundary through point to level the scores.
Indeed, both Virat Kohli and Hope hit centuries in a thrilling tie.
So, if this contest is anything like as exciting as that one, we could be in for a treat.
Although Rohit Sharma has been off-colour so far against West Indies- how Sharma fares against left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, one of the most consistent performers for West Indies over the past year, will be fascinating – the rest of the Indian batting contingent has displayed enough composure and grit for the spotlight to move away from the star opening batsman.
KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Dube have all shown across the white-ball series that they can be relied on to take responsibility, but the same cannot be same about the team’s bowling.
India almost never not pick wickets with spin at home but their spinners were wicketless in the 21 overs they bowled in Chennai a few days ago.
After failing to trouble the West Indies with spin,there is every chance India may switch their plans with either Dube or Ravindra Jadeja left out to accommodate Yuzvendra Chahal.
Home pacer Deepak Chaharalso conceded poor fielding and ordinary bowling let them down so the home side will certainly be keen to improve on both aspects in what is a must-win encounter.
West Indies captain Kieron Pollard has termed this series ‘more important right now than (the) World T20’ in Chennai.
If his players are as determined as he is, they may just seal the series against the betting odds.
The superstitious among you may also have noted that the teams batting first have won just one of the last six ODIs played in Visakhapatnam. The average first-innings total at the ground since 2010 is 275.
Kohli also averages 139 at the ground, having scored 556 runs – including three centuries, a 99 and a 65 – in his five outings in Visakhapatnam.
So consider all of this before you place your bets!
Just a footnote: The West Indies cricket team will be wearing black armbands during the match as a mark of respect for the 1960s great Basil Butcher, who died on Monday at the age of 86.
History
As far as One-Day International cricket is concerned, there has been very little separating these two teams.
In fact, it could barely be closer historically. The scale barely tips with India winning 61 games and the West Indies triumphing on 62 occasions. India and West Indies have met in the middle wearing their national colours for a total of 128 games with two other clashes tied and three draws.
Betting Tip
The SBOBET ODI betting odds are simply effective.
India 0.00 @ 1.28 and the West Indies 0.00 @ 3.38.
So why not liven up your ODI cricket experience by betting on the leading batsmen.
The obvious one is Kohli @ 3.40 with others to consider being Rohit Sharma @ 3.50, Lokesh Rahuland Mayank Agarwal@ 4.50, Iyer @ 7.00 and Pant @ 6.00.
For the Windies, how about Hope @ 4.30, Evin Lewis @ 4.50, Shimron Hetmyeror Brandon King @ 5.00 and Nicholas Pooranor Sunil Ambris @ 5.50. There is a wider list to study.
Despite posting 287 on a sluggish Chennai wicket, India lost the first ODI to West Indies by eight wickets. Shimron Hetmyer and Hope hit hundreds as West Indies gunned down the target in just 47.5 overs.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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