India vs West Indies 2018: 5 things that can unfurl for India in the ODI series

The first match of the 5 match ODI series is currently underway in Guwahati and this will most likely be the last set of ODIs that India plays at home before the start of much awaited World Cup.

This West Indies team may not prove to be the strongest or the stiffest opposition for the home team by any stretch of the imagination, but they are a much better limited-overs side than in the longest format of the game.

The Indian team still needs to do a lot of groundwork in terms of striking the right balance as far as the middle and the lower order is concerned.

The Indian top order is one of the best the world right now and they just need a strong middle order to support the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The bowling surprisingly lies in the safe hands, with all the bases covered heading to the World Cup barring maybe a couple of fitness issues, unlike in the past where the bowling was a big let down.

We will look at the 5 things that can unfurl for India in this series.

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#1 A settled middle order

Can he be the man?

Rishabh Pant is having the time of his life as a cricketer. Recently, he scored a century in a Test match in England. This feat was never achieved by any of the Indian wicket-keepers who had travelled to England in the past.

A terrific home series against the West Indies has earned him a maiden call-up to the ODI team for the series against the same opposition.

He now becomes the latest player to be tested in the middle order slot, the one which has been a major weakness for the current Indian ODI setup. Pant has been given an opportunity in the first ODI ahead of Manish Pandey and KL Rahul who were previously tried in the said position but failed to capitalize on the chances that were given to them.

This could be the series which may start to produce the desired result for results for India from their middle-order batsman with the inclusion of Pant in the side. He may just make the middle order look more attacking, a thing which has been missing in the recent past.

#2 A permanent solution to the No. 4 conundrum

Ambati Rayudu could seal the spot his own

Ambati Rayudu may finally be the man who could be the one for the troublesome No.4 spot. India have tried many players in the past ranging from Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and KL Rahul. These players have not been able to live up to the expectations of the team management. The latest one was Dinesh Karthik, but he too couldn't make an impression in the Asia Cup.

The middle order for the ongoing series, which possesses Dhoni, Rayudu and Pant, is a new look one and could be the best with a proper blend of youth and experience. All the three have a good hard hitting capability in the death overs along with the ability to rotate the strike during the middle overs.

Amabati Rayudu certainly deserves a longer run in the team given his marvellous comeback in the IPL which was completely unexpected, and this could be his best chance to cement a place for himself in the ODI squad.

#3 Jadeja's rise as an all-rounder

Will the sword celebration become a common feature in India's ODI cricket?

Ravindra Jadeja is a great asset for India in their ODI squad. Apart from immaculate bowling, he has the ability to change the course of a match with some sheer brilliance on the field.

Jaddu has been getting good as a batsman in recent times, contributing at crunch moments apart from his attacking bowling. India needs a good all-rounder who can bowl his quota of 10 overs and contribute with the bat whenever required.

With Hardik Pandya injured and not in the best of forms, Jadeja can hold onto this opportunity which looked bleak for him a couple of months ago.

Jadeja may not get to score big, given he comes at No.7, however, he can be a good foil for MS Dhoni and the tail-enders. Coming in to bat lower down the order, he can play some decisive innings in the context of the match.

#4 MS Dhoni- Getting back to his best

One good knock may be in the corner.

MS Dhoni may be in the worst phase of his career as a batsman but one cannot rule him out completely as his temperament and calmness are second to none. He is still the best wicket-keeper that is going around not just in India, but across the world. His finishing prowess might have diminished, but have not completely gone, and he is among the fittest players in the team.

Dhoni needs just an innings to turn around his fortunes and there will be no better series for him than the ongoing one. The former Indian skipper is in the twilight of his career and is a player who won't be dropped from the team under any circumstances, given his immense contributions to the national team.

The fans and the team management would be hoping that MSD gets his Midas touch with the bat sooner rather than later.

#5 Backup options in the pace department

Khaleel Ahmed is a new entrant to this bowling attack.

As mentioned earlier, India has one of the strongest bowling attacks in the world which is a rare phenomenon given that India is a batsman dominated country, and has been known to produce several great players with the willow.

This all changed when a plethora of fast bowlers came with the advent of the IPL and the state domestic cricket tournaments. This saw the emergence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh and Shami who can give any batsman a run for their money on any given day.

The bench strength is so strong such that even the absence of the players mentioned above in a game or a series won't be felt by the team. Such is the impact created by them in such a short span of time. This series can give rise to a few more of those including Khaleel Ahmed who has had a good time in the domestic circuit.

Also, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, who have been called back into the ODI squad for the first two ODIs, would look to perform well and stake a claim for the spot of a backup seamer in the squad.