Mark your calendars for an exciting cricket encounter as part of India’s tour of the West Indies in 2023! The 3rd ODI match is set to take place at the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday, 27th July 2023. Don’t miss this thrilling clash between the two cricketing giants.

Following their triumph in the test series, India is gearing up to take on the hosts, West Indies, in a three-match ODI series. While India showcased outstanding performances in the recent ODI series against various nations, West Indies, unfortunately, had a disappointing run in the recently concluded ODI World Cup qualifier.

With the World Cup on the horizon, this series holds immense significance for India as they aim to finalize their strongest playing eleven. It presents an excellent opportunity for the Indian team to fine-tune their strategies and solidify their lineup ahead of the prestigious tournament.

Once considered one of the most formidable white-ball teams, West Indies has faced disappointments in recent years, leaving their fans longing for better performances. Failing to secure direct qualification for the ICC ODI World Cup and missing out on the opportunity to compete in the World Cup qualifier matches added to their woes. In an effort to confront India in the upcoming ODI series, West Indies has undergone some changes, bolstering their lineup.

Taking charge as the new leader for this ODI series is Shai Hope, who will also be responsible for anchoring the batting order alongside Brandon King, Rovman Powell, and Alick Athanaze.

Shimron Hetmeyer, despite limited appearances in international cricket, has earned a spot in the ODI squad based on his impressive performances in the IPL. The success of Brandon King and Shai Hope will be crucial for West Indies in this series. King recorded an impressive 436 runs in the previous nine ODI matches, while Hope showcased his batting prowess with 377 runs in the last nine innings. Notably, both players have a strong track record in home conditions.

Gudakesh Motie, who missed out on several previous series due to injury, has made a comeback and finds himself back in the West Indies squad. Jayden Seales and Oshane Thomas will lead the bowling unit, supported by Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, and Dominic Drakes. With this balanced lineup, West Indies seeks to regain its former glory and deliver formidable performances against India.

Buoyed by their dominant performance in the test series against the home side, India enters the ODI series with confidence. The team has almost finalized its squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup and aims to evaluate the players further in this series. Rohit Sharma, the regular leader of Team India in white-ball cricket, continues to captain the side for this ODI series. The opening partnership is expected to be led by Rohit Sharma alongside Shubman Gill, who both impressed in the test series and are anticipated to provide a strong start in the ODI matches.

Virat Kohli, known for his consistent batting prowess, is set to occupy the number three spot in the batting order. After scoring a century in the test series, he approaches the ODI series with confidence and form on his side.

Both Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli have displayed impressive performances in recent ODI matches, with Kohli boasting an average of 60 runs and Gill maintaining an average of 78 runs in the last nine games. India’s top and middle-order batting lineup is considered one of the best, as evident from their past ODI matches.

The playing eleven for this match is expected to include Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, further strengthening India’s batting depth. Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya, recognized as two of the best all-rounders in white-ball cricket, will play crucial roles in the middle and lower overs.

India boasts a world-class batting order, especially in white-ball cricket, and is equally rich in its bowling unit. The bowling attack will be led by Mohammed Siraj, supported by Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal. With such a balanced and talented squad, India aims to assert its dominance in the ODI series.

In their ODI history, West Indies has participated in a total of 865 matches. Out of these, they emerged victorious in 417 matches, while their opponents secured 408 wins. Additionally, there have been 30 matches with no result, and 10 matches ended in a thrilling tie.

As of now, India has participated in 1029 ODI International matches. Out of these, they have achieved 539 victories, while experiencing defeat in 438 matches. Furthermore, 43 matches concluded without a decisive result, and 9 matches ended in an exciting tie.

In the 139 ODI matches contested between West Indies and India, West Indies secured victory in 70 matches, while India claimed 63 wins. Additionally, 4 matches between these two teams ended without a clear result, and 2 matches resulted in thrilling ties.

As per the match prediction, India enters as the favored team to win this encounter. Several factors contribute to India’s advantage:

1. India’s recent test series victory has bolstered their confidence for this match.
2. Their impressive track record includes winning the previous eight ODI matches against West Indies.
3. West Indies has struggled on home turf, losing 11 out of the last 12 ODI matches played in their home country.
4. India boasts a robust batting lineup, with key players in excellent form.
5. In the bowling department, India is considered superior to West Indies, further solidifying their edge in this match.

With a formidable batting order and a strong bowling unit, India holds a clear advantage over West Indies in today’s match, especially while playing in their home conditions. The winning probabilities for both teams are as follows:

India: 60% chance of winning.
West Indies: 40% chance of winning.

The outcome of the toss will significantly influence the match’s decision. As per the toss prediction, the team winning the toss is likely to opt for batting first.

The 3rd ODI encounter between West Indies and India is set to take place at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The pitch at this stadium is renowned for being favorable to batsmen, with short boundaries that will also provide opportunities for spinners to make an impact. The batting conditions are expected to remain favorable throughout the match. A competitive total of 280 could be considered a defendable score on this pitch.

The weather forecast for the match day in Barbados does not bode well for a cricket match. There are possibilities of rain, which may lead to interruptions during the game.

West Indies: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (C & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Alzarri Joseph, Oshane Thomas, Jayden Seales/Yannic Cariah.

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan/Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat/Mukesh Kumar.

Captain: Virat Kohli
Vice-Captain: Ravindra Jadeja
Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Kyle Mayers, Mohammad Siraj, Alzarri Joseph, Yuzvendra Chahal

• Date: Thursday, 27th July 2023
• Time: 01:30 PM GMT / 09:30 AM LOCAL / 07:00 PM IST

• Stadium: Kensington Oval
• Location: Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies
• Opened: 1871
• Capacity: 28,000
• Known as: Pickwick Cricket Club
• Ends: Malcolm Marshall End, Joel Garner End
• Time Zone: UTC -04:00
• Home to: Barbados
• Floodlights: Yes

• Total matches: 49
• Matches won batting first: 22
• Matches won bowling first: 25
• Average 1st Inns scores: 229
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 199
• Highest total recorded: 364/4 (48.4 Ov) by ENG vs WI
• Lowest total recorded: 91/10 (30 Ov) by IRE vs AUS
• The highest score chased: 364/4 (48.4 Ov) by ENG vs WI
• The lowest score defended: 197/8 (50 Ov) by PAK vs WI

Shai Hope (c & wk), Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Alick Athanaze, Rovman Powell, Keacy Carty, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Oshane Thomas, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair, Dominic Drakes, Yannic Cariah.