Ticking off the Indian’s team countdown to the 2019 World Cup, a formidable India will look forward to get more answers for their unresolved middle-order puzzle when they take on West Indies in the five-match ODI series on Sunday. With India having 18-odd games left to decide their middle order and WC 19 just eight months away, it is mainly the number four position which is the most concerning for the Indian squad.


Since the 2015 World Cup, the Indian team has been searching for a player who can perform consistently to create balance in the middle order. The search for this ‘consistent player’ will continue during the series against the West Indies, starting today with the five-match one-day series against West Indies.


Captain Virat Kohli returns to the 50-over format after a much needed break during the Asia Cup. Kohli is expected try out a new combination in the middle order. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, will make his ODI debut, following his great performance with the bat in two-match test series against West Indies. Pant also scored a century at the Oval in his debut series against England.


Team’s middle order has already missed Kedar Jadhav who suffered a major side strain in the Asia Cup final match against Bangladesh. With Pant’s entry, Manish Pandey has been benched for the first game.


Apart from Pant, all eyes will be on Mahendra Singh Dhoni once again. Dhoni has been going through a rough patch in recent times and has not played any useful innings for the team. However, Chief selector MSK Prasad has clarified that Dhoni will be the first choice as a wicket keeper for the World Cup 2019.


Dhoni did not appear in the Asia Cup. He scored 77 runs in the four innings with an average of 19.25 and a strike rate of 62.09. So far this year, he played 10 innings in 15 matches, with an average of 28.12 and a strike rate of 67.36 runs.


Getting brutally thrashed by India in the two-match Test series, West Indies seem to be an easy mountain to climb. While opener Elvis Lewis decision to withdraw from the ODI series due to personal reasons was a huge blow for the team, adding to the Windies sorrow, the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Coach Stuart Law for the first two ODIs against India. The decision of ICC to suspend Law came after he made "inappropriate comments" against a match official.


After a disastrous defeat in the Test series, it’s time for Captain Jason Holder to display his leadership skills by setting an example, lead his side from the front and try to attain positive results for his side in the 50-overs format.


"It's hard to lose a player who has been around and has some success in the particular format we're playing in. No doubt, it's tough," Holder said. "You obviously set your plans and you formulate your plans around the composition you would have selected. [To have someone pull out at] such a late time is tough.


Presence of veteran Marlon Samuels along with returning Kemar Roach might possibly surprise the hosts at home.


Squads


India: Virat Kohli(capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, K Khaleel Ahmed, Lokesh Rahul, Umesh Yadav.


Windies: Jason Holder(capt), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Fabian Allen, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Oshane Thomas, Kieran Powell.