India v West Indies 3rd ODI Tips, Predictions and Preview

Gary Emmerson:

Comfortable wins for either side in the first two ODIs meant India and West Indies are locked 1-1 going into the final ODI at Cuttack on Sunday.

With the series on the line, both sides will be looking to give it one big shot to be the winner.

Even in the T20I series preceding the ODIs, these two sides have gone into the final match at level pegging. Either way, we are sure of the two teams dishing out an exciting match.

India

India put in a better performance in Vizag in the second ODI, but there still remain chinks in their line-up. Fielding still hasn’t hit the high standards that they have set themselves up over the last few years. The batting clicked like magic in the second match, especially with Rohit Sharma (195 series runs, SR 100.51) at his best.

The hosts will still be fretting over Virat Kohli’s numbers (4 & 0) in the series, although that didn’t hamper them a lot. With Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami in the side, not to speak of five proper bowlers India seem to have the right balance in the bowling attack.

West Indies

The Windies have surprised everyone in the series with their performances. The batsmen have stuck to their guns and relied on the big hits to put pressure on the Indian bowlers. Shimron Hetmyer (143 runs, SR 126.54) and Nicholas Pooran (104 runs, SR 148.57) have been brilliant with their stroke play.

However, it is Shai Hope (180 runs, SR 76.27) who has been their glue holding the batting unit together. The worry for the Windies bowling unit remains two fold – the lack of a wicket-taking spinner and the over-reliance on Sheldon Cottrell for initial breakthroughs put them in a spiral of thought.

Match Up

India have won six of their last seven bilateral home ODI series, but their only loss has come in the most recent series against Australia. However, the last time India have lost consecutive bilateral home ODI series was in 2005. They generally perform well in the series finale, but the Windies’ firepower remains the variable.

History & Statistics

  • Nine of India’s last 12 ODI results favoured the side batting first.
  • India have won six of their last seven completed ODIs against West Indies.
  • India have a 12-4 win-loss record at Cuttack, and have won their last six completed ODIs here.
  • West Indies have lost six of their last ten away ODIs.
  • West Indies have lost all three ODIs at Cuttack against India.
  • West Indies haven’t won a bilateral ODI series since October 2011.

Key Players

It is not often that you say that Virat Kohli is searching for runs. The Indian captain has had two failures this series and looks a walking wicket – something not you associate with a player of his stature.

Keemo Paul stormed into the West Indies side as a very strong death bowler. Even this series, he has been in his elements but the Windies will hope he gets beyond being just a one or two wicket bowler.

Tips