IND vs WI, 3rd ODI: Rohit Sharma elects to bat
India and West Indies are taking on each other in the final ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The hosts eye a historic series sweep over the Caribbeans, having gained an unassailable 2-0 lead. Notably, India have never routed West Indies in a bilateral ODI series. The news from the center is that Rohit Sharma has won the toss and elected to bat.
Here are the two teams
West Indies (Playing XI): Shai Hope (wicket-keeper), Brandon King, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran (captain), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Odean Smith, Alzarri Joseph, Hayden Walsh, Kemar Roach. India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
India have made four changes
India have made as many as four changes to the Playing XI. KL Rahul, Deepak Hooda, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Shardul Thakur are sitting out. They have made way for Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav, and Deepak Chahar. Dhawan and Iyer return to the setup after recovering from COVID-19. As far as West Indies are concerned, Hayden Walsh has come in for Akeal Hosein.
Key details about the match
The Narendra Modi Stadium is hosting the final ODI. It will begin at 1:30 pm IST. The surface here assists spinners. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took four wickets in the 1st ODI. Pacers shone in the 2nd ODI, with Prasidh Krishna leading the pack. One can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network and stream the same on the Hotstar app (paid subscription).
India on the brink of scripting history
India recorded their last whitewash in ODIs in 2017 against Sri Lanka when they blanked the Lankans 5-0 under Virat Kohli. The Men in Blue achieved this feat during their SL tour. India's last whitewash win at home came in 2014 (vs SL).
Rohit Sharma eyes these milestones
If India win the third ODI, Rohit Sharma will become only the eighth captain from the country to guide them to a series sweep. It will also be India's first whitewash against WI in ODIs. Here are the seven players who have registered this feat as captain - Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane.
