India v West Indies First ODI Tips: Target batter bets on flat wicket

Click here for India v West Indies odds
Sunday 27 September, 09:30
TV: Live on TNT

India v West Indies first ODI team news

India have a worry about the fitness of captain Shubman Gill. Gill took a knock to the elbow in the nets and is considered a doubt. Ruturaj Gaikwad would deputise.

The hosts continue to be beset by injuries. This isn't their full-strength side again with Hardik Pandya and now Harshit Rana missing. There's no Jasprit Bumrah involved but they have experience in spades in the form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The main selection issue will focus on spin. Do India pair Ravi Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav? Or do they go for the all-round pace of Nitish Kumar Reddy for one of those slots?

Possible XI: Rohit, Jaiswal, Gill, Kohli, Rahul, Jurel, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Brar, Krishna, Siraj

West Indies have decided to rest Shimron Hetmyer, one of their best players of spin. There is no recall, either, for the wily Jason Holder.

Shai Hope leads and there are immediate concerns about the batting. John Campbell or Jewel Andrew may open  with Amir Jangoo as they look to add all-round depth.

The prospect of Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph at Nos 8 and 9 respectively will mean Windies reckon they can stay in a game. For that reason Justin Greaves, as a batting all-rounder, may get in ahead of Matthew Forde. Leggie Vitel Lawes could be important.

Possible XI: Andrew/Campbell, Jangoo, Hope, Carty, Rutherford, Chase, Greaves/Forde, Motie, Alzarri, Seales, Lawes

India v West Indies first ODI pitch report 

Unhelpfully there has been only two ODI at Greenfield Stadium. India made 390 against Sri Lanka in 2023 and then razed their visitors for just 73. In a T20 in January India made 270 against New Zealand, who replied with 225. Before that India's 235 trumped Australia's 190.

Sportsbook offer over 280.5 first innings runs. It could be that it is flat enough that even Windies make short work of that given those T20 scores. We would expect India's runs line to be pushing 330.

India v West Indies first ODI match prediction 

This is, unfortunately, a mismatch and with the formbook generally holding up extremely well in ODI an upset in game one doesn't appeal even if West Indies are priced at 6/17.00 with the Betfair Sportsbook. They are a poor side who will not even qualify automatically for the World Cup next year.

There is hope, though, if we're right about this pitch. Batting first, they could well get what the market considers a foothold if they can get up towards that 280 mark. A handful of points (maybe three) could be shaved off their price on the Betfair Exchange.

Currently Windies are 8.07/1. It is not beyond the realms that they could come down to 5.04/1. A back-to-lay then with, say, two units on the back price and then three on the lay button would give all green whatever happens. If placing an order for that 5.04/1 one would have to have in-play checked.

India v West Indies first ODI player tips 

It is annoying that Gill has a niggle. Coming into this contest he is their top-rated batter on the top-batsman market with a 30% hit rate in the last two years. Rohit is next best at 21.7% while, for the record, Virat Kohli is at 21.05%. With the ball it's a straight fight between Ravi Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav at 30 and 33.3 respectively.  

For West Indies the men with the numbers are Keacy Carty and Jayden Seales with bat and ball, winning at 20.6 and 28. However, the pure value is with Sherfane Rutherford on the runs market. He also busts 20% and Betfair Sportsbook rate him at 9/25.50. Carty is too skinny at 7/24.50.

On roads, milestone betting is often the way to go so if Gill can get himself right the 11/102.11 for a 50 has some appeal. Rutherford is 3/14.00 on the same market.

Bookmark Betting.Betfair for cricket tips on all the big games and tournaments