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1st ODI, Toss report: Rishabh Pant debuts as India opt to field against West Indies in Guwahati

Virat Kohli won the coin toss and opted to field against West Indies in the first ODI of the five-match series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

virat kohli
India will play with three seamers and two spinners (IANS Photo)

India captain Virat Kohli won the coin toss and opted to field against West Indies in the first ODI of the five-match series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday.

Three players are making their ODI debuts in this contest. While India have handed maiden ODI cap to big-hitting Rishabh Pant, West Indies have two debutants in their playing XI – top-order batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj and fast bowler Oshane Thomas.

Explaining his decision to chase Kohli said despite dew coming in to play later in the day, he expects the pitch to stay the same. “The surface looks good. There is a bit of grass, I won’t say it is green grass but it is present to bind the surface. I don’t see this pitch changing and there will be dew in the second half, so we will bowl first,” he said at the toss.

India have included three pacers in Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Khaleel Ahmed while Yuzvendra Chahal and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja will handle the spin duties.

West Indies captain Jason Holder said the series presents his young team a chance to learn and impress. “I won’t mind batting first on this pitch. We have two debutants in the team today. We are a young side and this is an opportunity for the youngsters to make their mark,” Holder said.

Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (captain), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (wk), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, K Khaleel Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal

West Indies: Kieran Powell, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shai Hope (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Marlon Samuels, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder (captain), Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas

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