New Delhi:
The first match in Guyana, which was washed out due to rain after just 13 overs, was a big dampener for not just the fans in Providence but also for the Indian cricket team batsmen. The presence of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant for this series gives them a chance to showcase their mettle against the West Indies as India aim to solve the No.4 conundrum. The team combination for the first game is an indicator that after a good World Cup at the top of the order post Dhawan's injury, Rahul is being looked at as a specialist opener who will only come in place of Dhawan or Rohit in case of an injury to any one of the two. The series is also important for Kedar Jadhav, who is next in line to get a permanent boot from the national side after Dinesh Karthik. Trinidad has been a happy hunting ground for the Indian team, having won their first Test in the Caribbean in 2002 after 26 years. They have also won some ODIs in the recent past and thus Port of Spain is indeed Port of Gain for the Indians.
At the other end, the West Indies will be hoping Chris Gayle puts in a better show. Gayle struggled against the spin of Kuldeep Yadav and was very cautious against the pacers during his knock of four from 31 balls. Trinidad could be the venue where Gayle becomes the leading run-getter for West Indies in ODIs and also play the most ODIs by a West Indies player. Gayle will be hoping to find some support from the middle order.
The bowling has been inconsistent and it was evident from the way the bowlers bowled in the World Cup - either too full or too short. The one-dimensional nature of the West Indies bowling could prove to be a major stumbling block for Jason Holder's side.
Team Combination
India
India might not want to make too many changes as well. With the rain in Guyana, the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant did not get a chance to showcase their mettle with the bat in the ODIs. The bowling looked in decent shape but in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar only managed to keep the runs down. Khaleel Ahmed will be determined to overcome a poor show in Guyana where he was attacked by Evin Lewis.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, K Khaleel Ahmed
West Indies
West Indies might not tinker with their combination much. With the game in Guyana being abandoned after just 13 overs, West Indies might not want to make any changes. They will be hoping that Chris Gayle will fire on his 300th ODI and there will be an added bonus of breaking Brian Lara's record of most runs for West Indies and that too on his home ground.
Probable XI: Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Shai Hope(w), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Jason Holder(c), Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Kemar Roach
Who will win?
On current form, the Indian cricket team are superior in terms of batting and bowling than the West Indies and they will be wanting to continue their winning run against the hosts at a venue where they have enjoyed tremendous success.
Weather and Pitch
Unlike Guyana, the weather in Port of Spain is fair and there are slim chances of rain. The wicket is good for batting and it will get slower as the game progresses.
Stadium and Timings
The encounter will take place at Port of Spain Trinidad at 19:00 pm IST local.
