West Indies v India First ODI Tips: Windies face more spin woe

Ed Hawkins
21 July 2022
2:30 min read

Chahal should be a major threat to West Indies

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Ed Hawkins says Yuz Chahal and Ravi Jadeja could torment the Windies at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad on Friday...

"Given West Indies' difficulty in getting a score on the board against Bangladesh, who hit them with spin, one has to fear for them with India able to deploy a minimum of 30 overs of tweak"

(1pt) Lay West Indies for 190 or more 1st inns runs from 1.608/13

West Indies v India
Friday 22 July, 14:30
TV: live on BT Sport

Windies sinking further

West Indies suffered a 3-0 defeat by Bangladesh in the ODI series that preceded this contest. They were outplayed in each of the three matches and their record goes from bad to worse.

Since the end of the last World Cup, West Indies have lost 23 from 38 matches. Their ten wins have come against Afghanistan, Ireland and Netherlands.

In an effort to stem the tide Jason Holder has been returned to the squad but they look severely limited with the bat. They look a batsman short every game and one wonders whether it is time for them to return to Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer, both of whom have had their commitment called into question.

The middle-order looks desperately weak. Keacy Carty may pip Brandon King for the final batting spot. Shai Hope has also suffered a dip in form.

Probable XI: Hope, Mayers, Brooks, Pooran, Carty, Powell, Holder, Akeal, Joseph, Motie, Seales

India rest key men

India are not a full-strength. After beating England they have decided to leave out Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Viraty Kohli.

Shikhar Dhawan will captain the side in Rohit's absence with Ravi Jadeja available to balance the XI. Shardul Thakur will also be a key performer in that regard.

Dhawan could open with one of Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad or Shubmann Gill. Shreyas Iyer should slot in at No 3 and then India may pair two from Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson.

Spinner Yuz Chahal leads the bowling attack. Avesh Khan and Mohammad Siraj could well be put together as the pace duo. Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna are other options.

Possible XI: Dhawan, Gaikwad, Shreyas, Samson, Hooda, Jadeja, Axar, Thakur, Avesh, Chahal, Siraj

Pitch report

There have been only two ODI at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad in the last five years. Both those matches were won by India, defending 279 and chasing 255 (off 35 overs in a rain-affected contest). It would be a surprise if we saw a flat, road-like batting wicket.

In T20 runscoring hasn't exactly been easy. Eight of the last nine scores in first-innings came in at under 150.

Given West Indies' difficulty in getting a score on the board against Bangladesh, who hit them with spin, one has to fear for them with India able to deploy a minimum of 30 overs of tweak, maybe more if Deepak Hooda was used.

Laying 'extremes' if Windies bat first may be a ploy. We should be able to get very short prices indeed of under 180, 190. Bet the market here.

Pitch report

West Indies are 4.03/1 with India 1.3030/100. We had hoped for slightly more on India but it is perfectly understandable given the horror form shown by the hosts.

We will cling to the hope that West indies can somehow get a foothold. Perhaps India's lack of preparation and acclimatisation may induce a wobble and we can get something in the region of 1.705/7. It could be our only chance. India have dominated West Indies as you would expect, winning eight of the last nine meetings.

The Sportsbook price of 11/10 that India win, hit most fours and sixes may see plenty of interest. Bet the Sportsbook markets here.

Tops value

Hope was our go-to man in the top Windies bat market but his poor form has hurt us badly and now even at a boosted 16/5 we can't make a case for him on win rate. With four wins in 15 Shamarh Brooks is underrated at 9/2 and is a perfectly good wager.

For India, Dhawan has been boosted to 7/2. Ishan is potentially chunky at 4s because if he plays, he opens. Shreyas is also 4/1.

A Bangladesh spinner won man of the match in each of the three ODI matches so we have to be enamoured with Sportsbook's 9/1 about Chahal and the 12s about Jadeja. CHahal is 5/2 for top India bowler and Jadeja 7/2.

It's Akeal Hosein v Alzarri Joseph for top home bowler at 5/2 and 3/1 respectively. Akeal has returned ten in 23 and Joseph nine in 21. Bet the Sportsbook markets here.