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The much-anticipated One-Day International (ODI) series between West Indies and India is set to kick off today at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. India recently wrapped up a two-match Test series against the West Indies, claiming victory in the opening game and drawing the second Test.
Now, the Men in Blue are looking forward to the ODI series as an opportunity to fine-tune their skills ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. On the other hand, the Caribbean side is determined to regain confidence after failing to qualify for the upcoming 50-over World Cup event in India.
However, fans and the Indian team will feel the absence of Mohammed Siraj during the ODI series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made the decision to rest the right-arm pacer for this leg of the West Indies tour. It was anticipated that Siraj would lead India’s pace attack, which also features Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Mukesh Kumar, Umran Malik, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Nevertheless, considering the workload and the need for player management, the BCCI has opted to give Siraj a break during the ODI series.
Also read: WI vs IND 2023, 1st ODI: Match Prediction, Dream11 Team, Fantasy Tips & Pitch Report
Siraj’s recent performance has been commendable, particularly in the Test matches against the West Indies. In those two games, he secured an impressive tally of seven wickets, playing a significant role in India’s success.
Prior to the West Indies tour, Siraj also displayed his prowess in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval, picking up five wickets, including a crucial four-for in the first innings. Additionally, he was a key player for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2023, taking 19 wickets in 14 matches.
While India will certainly miss Siraj’s fiery pace and ability to take wickets, it provides an opportunity for other bowlers to step up and make their mark in the series. As of now, India haven’t named a replacement for the rested pacer.
Notably, this is not the only series that Siraj will be sitting out. He was also excluded from the upcoming T20I squad, indicating the Indian cricket team’s cautious approach towards managing his workload and keeping him fresh for future assignments.
Siraj’s last ODI appearance was against Australia at home in March 2022, where he stood out as India’s leading wicket-taker with five scalps. Since the start of 2022, Siraj has been the most prolific wicket-taker among Indian bowlers in ODIs, a testament to his growing stature as a premier fast bowler in international cricket.
Revised India squad for the ODI series against West Indies:
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik.
