India vs West Indies, 1st ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Team news ahead of the contest - Ishan Kishan will open the batting for India. He'll be playing his third ODI.

ICYMI - India will be playing their 1000th ODI. This will be the first ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Hello and welcome to the live blog of the opening ODI between India and West Indies in Ahmedabad. Before we get cracking with the game, here's the preview from Bharat R -

15 played - 5 won and 10 lost. India's progress report in ODI cricket since the start of 2020. India's rather modest record in that period does indicate from a position of sure-footed security, they have slipped a bit in the 50-over format. The other side of the argument would be that the Asian nation hasn't played enough ODI cricket in the last two years to test combinations in order to find the missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. So in that context, India's next assignment under the leadership of Rohit Sharma - a three-match ODI series against the West Indies - gains significance.

A few days before the opening ODI in Ahmedabad, the hosts found themselves in a bit of a quagmire when Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad and net bowler Navdeep Saini tested COVID-19 positive. Despite being pegged back by these cases, the hosts have the opportunity to play with their combinations and experiment. One of the recurring themes during India's 0-3 loss in South Africa was the middle order batters struggling to find the right tempo.

In that scenario, Deepak Hooda could get an opportunity to put his hat in the ring for a middle order berth. KL Rahul, who isn't available for the opening game, could also be a key to reignite the middle order engine when he returns. Even though Rahul batted at the top of the order in South Africa, he has showcased his ability to make an impact against hit the deck pace bowling in the middle and slog overs. It is further evidenced by the point that he has played 17 of his ODIs in the middle order and has accumulated 624 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate of over 100.

The to-do-project would also include propping up the bowling unit. India picking up only 14 wickets in total in the recently concluded ODI series in South Africa is a fair summation of how the bowling unit has bowled in the 50-over format in recent times. So the home side could look towards the promising Ravi Bishnoi to add some bite to the attack in the middle overs. Kuldeep Yadav has also returned to the squad after being laid low by a knee injury and some poor form.

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, the onus would be on Mohammed Siraj to shoulder the pace bowling unit. With Avesh Khan and Prasidh Krishna also in the squad, the hosts are perhaps hoping that one of them would turn out to be the ebullient energiser with hit-the-deck skills. On a side note, the match will also be a momentous occasion for India as they will be playing their 1000th ODI.

Meanwhile, the West Indies enter the series on the back of losing an ODI rubber versus Ireland. The visitors have won only 5 out of 12 matches in the World Cup Super League. Even though for the moment the West Indies sit one place above India - 7th - they have played three more matches than their counterparts. On a positive note, the T20I series victory against a rather depleted England would have boosted the confidence of Kieron Pollard and co.

Shai Hope will again be the bedrock of the batting unit while Shamarh Brooks showed some encouraging signs in the ODI rubber against Ireland. Brandon King's ability to crack shots in the arc between long-off and midwicket could unsettle the Indian bowlers. Nicholas Pooran's pyrotechnics can also hurt the home team. On the bowling side of things, the West Indies have recalled the experienced seamer Kemar Roach. Roach and the all-rounder Jason Holder would likely open the attack. Odean Smith offers the West Indies some extra pace and he hits the deck hard. The bowling all-rounder once broke Chris Gayle's bat into two in the CPL. Among the spinners, Akeal Hosein's deceptive arm ball could come in handy.