Full strength India looking to plug gaps and extend lead against buoyant Windies

India vs West Indies 3rd ODI Preview: Handed a reality check after West Indies salvaged a morale-boosting tie in the second game, India will be hoping to put up an improved bowling show with their frontline pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah back in action for the third ODI

India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: After being outplayed in all three departments in the two-match Test series, the visiting West Indian side showed a lot of improvements as soon as the contest shifted to white ball cricket, running India close in the 2nd ODI only to falter in the closing stages and being satisfied with a tie. But they will have a much harder task in hand in the third ODI at Pune against a near full-strength Indian side which has been boosted by the return of fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.

The absence of Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah were felt in both the ODIs as the Indian bowling unit was clobbered for 320 plus runs in both games with middle-order batsman Shimron Hetmyer smashing 200 runs at a strike rate well over 120.

That Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah are equally good with the new and old is not the only factor going in India’s favour. The duo have a standout record against left-handers and the West Indies have three of them in their top five.

With more variations in their repertoire in white ball cricket compared to the profilgate Umesh Yadav and an inconsistent Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah are expected to make a significant difference in the outcome of the matches.

Apart from Hetmyer, India also needs to be wary of Shai Hope, who carried West Indies to a tie in the previous match at Visakhapatnam, remaining unbeaten on 123.

Senior spinner Ravindra Jadeja will have to pull up his socks and can't afford to be inconsistent with only a few places up for grabs going into the World Cup.

But apart from these two, West Indies would be hoping that the others like Kieron Powell, Chanderpaul Hemraj and Rovman Powell step up and deliver.

Their senior pros like experienced Marlon Samuels (13 runs) and skipper Jason Holder (50 runs) haven't really played to their potential. The duo will look to make amends.

India also have issues to ponder over with only 16 games are left before the World Cup in England next year -- the fragile middle-order and lack of consistency from the lower-middle order batsmen -- when they take the field at the MCA International stadium.

Skipper Virat Kohli, who surpassed iconic Sachin Tendulkar to score fastest 10,000 runs, has always been the backbone of the team. His back to back hundreds (140 and 157 not out) is just a testimony to it. The skipper, who has scored 297 runs so far in the series, will be aiming for a big knock again.

Ambati Rayadu, whose 73 consolidated his claim for No 4 spot and a good show on Saturday, will only help him make the position his own.

But questions remain on a stable numbers 5, 6 and 7.

Veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni (20) again looked out of sorts in the second ODI and with his ability to finish innings on the wane, the stumper will be under immense pressure to perform.

A big score is expected from young Rishabh Pant, who has got the ability to go all guns blazing. The team management is expected to persist with him for his game-changing ability. 

The dew is a big factor during day-night matches in India, something that will worry Kohli since both his wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were finding it difficult to grip the wet ball.

Squads

India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey.

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.