Team India is hosting West Indies in the opening ODI of the three-match series in Ahmedabad (February 3). The home team is without the services of as many as 3 first-choice players as Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad tested positive for COVID-19 before the start of the series.
All three players are in isolation and have been ruled out of the ODI series. Iyer is also part of the T20I squad and will be available for selection for the three games if he recovers from the infection in time.
While serving the isolation period, Dhawan has been delivering updates from his room. A few days back, the opening batsman wrote that he is doing fine while recovering from the infection.
During the 1st ODI, Dhawan again took to social media and sent his wishes to the Men in Blue. “Great game so far boys Yuzi on Keep going,” he wrote.
Dhawan, who made his comeback to international cricket during the South Africa tour, has been ruled out of all three fixtures and will return home after recovering from the infection. Since India next play an ODI series in July, he will next don the national jersey after 5 months.
Talking of the opening ODI, India were off to a dominating start and got the first wicket of Shai Hope at a score of 13. The visiting team continued to lose wickets and were 5 down for 71 at one stage. Courtesy of a 78-run stand for the 8th wicket between Jason Holder (57) and Fabian Allen (29), WI went past the 150-run mark and finished at 176.
The opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan have given a positive start to the team and added over 50 runs for the first wicket. Ahmedabad, the venue for the 1st ODI, will host the next two ODIs as well.
