Rohit Sharma Close to 10,000 ODI Runs as India Faces West Indies
With the three-match One Day International (ODI) series between India and the West Indies set to kick off on July 27th, all eyes will be on Indian captain Rohit Sharma as he nears a major milestone. Sharma is just short of 175 runs to complete 10,000 runs in the 50-over format of the game, and his performance with the bat will be crucial for India’s dominance in the series.
Rohit Sharma had an exceptional outing in the recently concluded Test series against the Windies, where he smashed a century and two vital fifties, contributing significantly to India’s 1-0 victory over the hosts. Now, the Indian team will be looking to carry their winning momentum into the ODI series and fine-tune their preparation for the upcoming Men’s ODI World Cup, which is just over two months away.
However, several regular members of the Indian squad are still recovering from various injuries, opening up opportunities for other players to stake their claim for a spot in the World Cup squad. Players like Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Umran Malik will be looking to impress the selectors and solidify their positions in the team.
With Shreyas Iyer sidelined due to an injury, Suryakumar Yadav is expected to be given a chance to bat at number four, despite having recorded three consecutive ducks in the ODIs against Australia earlier this year. In the absence of KL Rahul, who is recovering from a right thigh injury, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson will be competing for the wicketkeeper’s spot in the playing eleven.
While Kishan hasn’t been able to replicate his sensational double-hundred performance against Bangladesh in ODI cricket, Samson has shown glimpses of his talent in the limited opportunities he has received. The series against the West Indies provides Samson with a chance to showcase his skills and consistency over the course of three matches.
The teams for the series opener are as follows:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
West Indies: Shai Hope (c/wk), Rovman Powell (vc), Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Dominic Drakes, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Oshane Thomas.
As the series gets underway, cricket fans around the world will be eagerly watching Rohit Sharma’s pursuit of 10,000 ODI runs, while also keeping an eye on the emerging talents vying for their spots in the Indian team for the World Cup. As the action unfolds in the Caribbean, both teams will be determined to leave their mark and build confidence ahead of cricket’s biggest event.
