Known for receiving a huge amount of support wherever they play, Team India perhaps for the first time, is set to play a home fixture as an away team when they take on West Indies in the fourth ODI, returning at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai after 23 long years.
Brabourne was awarded the match after Mumbai Cricket Association refused to host the ODI at Wankhede Stadium citing financial constraints.
While there is no doubt that the Brabourne crowd will cheer for Kohli’s men, it is the visiting West Indian team that can actually claim it to be their home. West Indies have featured in 4 of the 8 ODIs played at the iconic stadium, which started losing out on international matches after the Wankhede Stadium became the chosen one for hosting India matches at Mumbai. India, on the other hand, have played only one ODI here against New Zealand in 1995, which they won by 6 wickets.
West Indies would look carry on the momentum gained from the last two ODIs and put India, who are struggling to find the right combination in this series, under severe pressure by taking a 2-1 lead before the final ODI at Thiruvananthapuram. The 'home' feel at Brabourne is certain to give winds to their sail.
West Indies have fond memories of lifting their only Champions Trophy title back in 2006 posting the highest total at the venue of 234/6 and bowling Australia out for 224 in a high-profile final.
Incidentally, the 2006 Champions Trophy final was also the last ODI played at the Brabourne Stadium. The last international match played here was an India-Sri Lanka Test match in 2009.
Former India captain MS Dhoni has fond memories of this ground, where he officially led the Indian side for the last time in a warm-up game against England in 2017. Dhoni, however, later on captain India in an Asia Cup match against Afghanistan at UAE earlier this year.