India and West Indies played out an entertaining and good quality T20 series over the last week or so and on Sunday they move up to the ODI format for the first of the three matches in that sphere, this one coming from Chennai.
India made it through to the semi-finals of the World Cup in this format back in the English summer, while West Indies offered plenty but ultimately delivered little. They have another chance to showcase their credentials here.
India
The Indians came out on top in that T20 series but they were taken the distance by West Indies which will have refocused the minds of the home players and made sure any complacency that could have set in will no longer do. It should also ensure that they look to deliver their best performance in order to make the match as comfortable for them as they can. This is India’s stronger form of the two limited overs spheres which will give them confidence.
The big reason why India are so good in this format, especially in their own conditions, is the strength of their top four and if they deliver the goods then we know they have a bowling attack which can specialise and get the job done. That makes them a tough side but their opponents here can win matches with a brilliant 10 over spell so at no stage can India afford to take their minds off the job.
West Indies
I wondered what sort of West Indies we were going to get when it came to the India part of the series, but if the T20 matches were anything to go by there is no reason to suggest that they won’t be competitive. We have to acknowledge that they are a lot better in the 20 over game than the 50 over one in recent times, but they have been in India long enough to have formed a game plan and negate the strengths of the home side.
You would think the success that they may or may not have here will be determined by how well they bat. 50 overs is a long time so there is no need to go mental from the off and look to clear the ropes. There is scope for knocking the ball around and building a total, but that style would go against their natural game. They also need to hang tough with the ball and maybe give themselves an extra option or two.
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Team News
India are expected to go in with KL Rahul as their opener so Mayank Agarwal will have to wait for an ODI debut. The rising stock of Shivam Dube is expected to get him his ODI debut with Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal likely to play too.
West Indies have a doubt over Evin Lewis who picked up an injury in the last T20 and is likely to miss this match as a result. Sunil Ambris will open up alongside Shai Hope if Lewis is ruled out. Keemo Paul and Romario Shephard will come into the bowling attack.
Betting
I’m going to ease my way into this series because I want to see how the West Indies firstly line up in it, and how they go about their business in it as well. There is often a marked difference to their play between the two formats and I am wary of that. It also gives us a chance to see how India are performing as well, which is no bad thing with an eye in later in the piece.
The total runs line is 534.5 here and I think that is a little on the high line. Aside from the Asia XI vs Africa XI exhibitions here in 2007, there has only been one score of 300 on this ground in 19 ODIs which suggests it is not the highest scoring ground in the world. We know that from the IPL matches here and the World Cup that was here eight years ago. The reason for that is the pitch is slow and sluggish and the outfield could be likewise after a lot of rain in the build up to the match. These are not the conditions West Indies batsmen generally thrive in so I think the under the bet here.
Tips
Back Under 534.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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