India have already won the series going into the final match albeit by the skin of their teeth.

Chances for the Indian bench?

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh and Ishan Kishan who are yet to get an opportunity on this tour will want to get some game time. The trouble for the Indian management though will be who do you bench.

As it is, the likes of Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda are not certainties in the Indian starting XI and are playing to put numbers on the board in order to be considered when the big guns return.

Suryakumar Yadav is the only automatic choice at this moment but he hasn't got a big score in the first two matches and would want an opportunity himself. Given that he will be more or less part of all the matches in the upcoming 5 match T20 Series, the Indian management might decide to give him a break.

One out of Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson will have to sit out to make room for Ishan Kishan.

Arshdeep Singh has been unfortunate to not get a chance on the tour till now. There were some reports of him not being entirely fit but if he has regained full fitness, he should be given a chance in place of Mohammad Siraj who has shown his ability in the first two matches already.

West Indies missing Gudakesh Motie

For West Indies, there isn't much that they can change with Gudakesh Motie out injured.

The team missed the spinner's services a lot in the second ODI as Hayden Walsh Jr was nowhere close to his best. Jason Holder who tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of the series might still be unavailable.

Axar Patel shows his worth

It was Axar Patel's maiden ODI half century that India were able to get over the line in the second ODI as the left arm spin bowling all rounder smoked it off just 27 deliveries, the second fastest for India against West Indies in ODI cricket.

Earlier, Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan added 48 runs for the opening partnership albeit a bit too slowly. Captain Shikhar Dhawan scored 97 in the first ODI and made a 31 ball 13 in the second match but he hasn't looked at his fluent best and will want to make the most of the opportunity in the final match. Gill has looked fluid in both the matches but has thrown his wicket away.

Shreyas Iyer has got half centuries in both the first two matches but will have to convert those into big ones as he himself admitted after the second match.

Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales shoulder WI's bowling

Alzarri Joseph was a cut above the rest of the West Indies bowlers, maintaining an economy rate of 4.60 while picking up two wickets. Jayden Seales bowled well in tandem with him and gave away only 40 runs from his 10 overs.

If only the likes of Akeal Hosein and Hayden Walsh had been a little tighter, things could have turned out to be different.

Runs expected from Hope, Pooran again

Shai Hope struck his 13th ODI century as West Indies batted first. However, he slowed down a bit in the middle, scoring 115 runs off 135 balls at a strike rate of 85.19 which perhaps cost West Indies a bit.

Nicholas Pooran hit a breezy 74 off 77 balls and the West Indies could have added at least 20-25 runs more had he been there till the end.

Having hardly won anything in ODI cricket of late, West Indies are desperate for a victory and would want to taste some success before the beginning of the T20 series.

Predicted Playing XIs

West Indies - Shai Hope (wk), Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (c), Rovman Powell, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie/Hayden Walsh, Jayden Seales

India - Shikhar Dhawan (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad/ Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna

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