India Tour of West Indies: India vs West Indies LIVE: One spot, three players, Rahul Dravid has another selection headache for the ODI series against West Indies. With Rohit Sharma resting, Shikhar Dhawan is the designated opener. But to compound matters, the other opener is Ishan Kishan while Ruturaj Gaikwad is out of form. Shubman Gill is still new to India’s white ball squad but looks like the ideal choice to partner with Dhawan for opening. Follow IND vs WI LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
The biggest headache for Rahul Dravid will be the left and right combination. As Team India prioritise that in all formats, a left-handed Dhawan is expected to take a right-handed partner. While Ishan Kishan is the best option as an opener, he is left-handed and is likely to be used as No 3.
India Tour of West Indies: Opening conundrum for Rahul Dravid, no Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Shubman Gill to fight for one spot: Check OUT
India Tour of West Indies: Who are competing for the opening slot?
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Ishan Kishan
- Shubman Gill
India Tour of West Indies: Opening conundrum for Rahul Dravid, no Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Shubman Gill to fight for one spot: Check OUT
Out of the three, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad are two right-handed options to partner with Shikhar Dhawan at the top. But Gill is making a comeback to white-ball cricket after more than a year while Gaikwad hasn’t impressed in India colours yet.
India Tour of West Indies: Who will open with Shikhar Dhawan in ODIs?
- In the last 12 months, India have played 12 ODIs and have used four opening pairs.
- Rohit Sharma & Shikhar Dhawan have mostly remained constant.
- But with Rohit Sharma rested for the ODI series, India will have to search for a new opener.
- Barring Dhawan, Gill, Gaikwad & Kishan are three choices India have.
- However, to keep the left-right combination intact, Rahul Dravid may go with Shubman Gill.
- The young opener can change his game, depending on situations and can also play attacking cricket.
- With Shikhar Dhawan struggling with his form, Gill can compliment him with his attacking batting.
- For Ruturaj, he might have to wait for his chances.
- But Ishan Kishan could also open with Dhawan if Hooda plays as No 3.
- With Virat Kohli rested, Hooda will have a chance to secure the No 3 spot besides Sanju Samson.
India’s opening pairs in ODIs in last 12 months
- IND vs SL: Prithvi Shaw & Dhawan (1)
- IND vs SA: KL Rahul & Shikhar Dhawan (2)
- IND vs WI: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan (1)
- IND vs WI: Rohit Sharma & Rishabh Pant
India Tour of West Indies: Opening conundrum for Rahul Dravid, no Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Shubman Gill to fight for one spot: Check OUT
With KL Rahul set to return, it will be interesting to see who gets the nod for the Zimbabwe tour. If KL Rahul is picked for the Zimbabwe tour, he is likely to open with Shikhar Dhawan with Ishan Kishan as No 3 if Kohli skips that series too. But for now, Rahul Dravid will have to solve the opening puzzle as well as No 3 problem.
India’s squad for 3 ODIs for WI: Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohd Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
India Tour of West Indies: Opening conundrum for Rahul Dravid, no Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Shubman Gill to fight for one spot: Check OUT
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