It won’t sound exaggerated at all if it’s said that India currently posses the strongest top-order in the world across the limited-over format. The entire world saw the best example in Guwahati on Sunday when West Indies found themselves at receiving end despite setting a competitive target. Kohli & Co. have begun the 5-match ODI rubber with an impeccable victory and would look to extend the lead 2-0 when they meet the West Indies in Vishakhapatnam on Wednesday.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma caused mayhem in Guwahati during the run chase. The duo turned the mammoth target into a cakewalk with their power hitting. While Kohli ended up scoring 140, Rohit carried the bat with 152* against his name.
And now, they would like to continue the same red-hot form in the second game and so on in the series.
Kohli, who seems to be on a mission of killing every gigantic record, requires another 81 runs to his already peerless tally; he will become the fastest batsman to 10,000 runs in this format, surpassing batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar took 259 innings to reach the landmark while Kohli has so far batted 204 times.
While India’s batting is the most lethal at the moment, its bowling needs to be sharpened. India could draft in chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who did not play in the opening game, to replace Khaleel Ahmed, who looked out of sorts against Hetmyer.
For the visitors, the seasoned Marlon Samuels is part of the squad but he perished quickly in the first match. He would look to make up for his failure, just like India's Shikhar Dhawan.
Pace spearhead Kemar Roach is back after missing the Test series due to bereavement in the family, but he could not inspire the team first up.
Roach will get another opportunity on Wednesday, and so will the likes of Devendra Bishoo, and skipper Jason Holder himself.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, Lokesh Rahul.
West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Oshane Thomas.