India vs West Indies: Shikhar Dhawan set to return as India eye 3-0 sweep in series finale
India Today
India vs West Indies: Shikhar Dhawan is all set to return to the side as India might also look to test their bench strength a bit in the series finale after having already sealed an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the ODIs.
India will look to complete their first-ever series sweep under Rohit Sharma's full-time captaincy as the hosts take on a battered West Indies side in the 3rd and final match of the ongoing ODI series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
India have not been clinical but have managed to outclass West Indies by comfortable margins in the first 2 ODIs. All eyes were on Rohit, who took as India's full-time ODI captain for the first time in the ODI series. And the skipper has passed the initial test with flying colours.
India flaunted their bowling skills in the first ODI, dismissing West Indies for 176 and defending a below-par total of 237 in the 2nd ODI on Wednesday in Ahmedabad. Rohit ticked all the right boxes during the 2nd ODI as he used all his experience to Marshall his bowling unit and set attacking fields to put pressure on the West Indies batters.
Friday's ODI is a dead rubber but it provides India with an opportunity to continue testing their bench strength. Ruturaj Gaikwad returned from Covid isolation on Thursday but it is unlikely that he is going to find a place in the XI in the 3rd ODI as Rohit Sharma confirmed that Shikhar Dhawan, who recovered from Covid earlier this week, will open with him.
It also means that India will suspend their 'Rishabh Pant experiment' at the top. India opened with Ishan Kishan in the 1st ODi and despite the return of KL Rahul, opened with Pant in the 2nd ODI, helping raise a few eyebrows. Pantt failed to make use of the opportunity as he departed for 18.
"We will get Shikhar back for next game, and he needs some game time. It is not always the results. We wanted to try it one game," Rohit had said.
While vice-captain Rahul is expected to continue batting at No. 4, Pant is likely to don the finisher's role. Both Rohit and Virat Kohli failed in the 2nd ODI and India need big ones from them if they are to post a dominant total on the board, provided they bat first in the series finale.
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