West Indies Women vs India Women, 1st ODI, North Sound: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

India Women will kick off their tour of West Indies Women with 3 ODIs, all of which will be played at North Sound. This will be followed by – as is expected three months before the Women’s T20 World Cup – a 5-match T20I series.

Things have not looked very bright for West Indies in recent times. They have lost their last 8 ODIs – 3 against Australia at home, 3 in England, and 2 against Pakistan in the UAE. They will have to play really out of their skin to compete with the rampant Indians, more so in the absence of Deandra Dottin, Shakera Selman, and Kycia Knight.

Thankfully, Chedean Nation and Shemaine Campbelle are both back, which should lift their morale. Along with Stafanie Taylor and Anisa Mohammed, they will have to play key roles against a very strong touring side.

India had been whitewashed 0-3 by Australia at home last year, but they have really turned things around since then, winning their last five series – twice against England at home, once each in Sri Lanka and New Zealand – all by 2-1 margins – followed by a 3-0 sweep against South Africa at home last month.

Smriti Mandhana will be back to bolster an already strong batting line-up. If anything, India may find it difficult to decide who will make way for her – the aggressive Priya Punia or the solid Punam Raut.

All in all, this is India’s match to lose.

Head to head

India hold an 18-4 lead here. However, West Indies have won the only home series against India 2-1, but that was back in 2012. India have won the last 5 matches.

Key players

Anisa Mohammed (West Indies Women): West Indies’ most experienced bowler will have to shoulder added responsibility for the hosts to pull off a win here. Anisa is also 4 wickets away from becoming the first spinner (and fourth bowler) to take 150 wickets in the format.

Mithali Raj (India Women): She might be on the last legs of her illustrious career, but Raj’s appetite for runs seems as insatiable as ever. She will be eyeing that 7,000-run mark – no woman has reached there in any format – in this series; she is, after all, only 192 runs away.

Likely XIs

West Indies Women: Britney Cooper, Kyshona Knight, Stafanie Taylor (c), Chedean Nation, Natasha McLean, Stacy-Ann King, Shemaine Campbelle, Chinelle Henry, Sheneta Grimmond, Afy Fletcher, Anisa Mohammed.

India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Priya Punia, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav.

Prediction

India Women to win easily.