Search for No. 4 batsman

Guwahati, October 20 

Hot favourites India will look to start their preparations for next year's 50-over World Cup in style and iron out their weaknesses when they take on West Indies in the five-match ODI series starting on Sunday.

All eyes on Rayudu 

India will play 18-odd ODIs before the World Cup in England. Among the issues they would want to address, India's middle-order is a problem, especially the No. 4 position, where many have been tried but with little success. Explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is expected to make his ODI debut following his exploits in the Tests. MS Dhoni will once again be under the pump as he has time and again struggled to replicate his old form.

India have struggled to find a proper No. 4 batsman and this will also present an opportunity to Ambati Rayudu, who is expected to bat at the position, to stake a claim in the side more regularly. India will also have the services of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the absence of the injured Hardik Pandya.

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will once again be expected to wreak havoc with their spin while fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and an in-form Umesh Yadav will share the workload in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, who have been rested for the first two ODIs. The tourists are expected to put up a better show in white-ball cricket. But the withdrawal of big-hitting opener Evin Lewis from the ODI series is a body blow for the team which is already missing Chris Gayle and Andre Russell. West Indies will bank on veteran Marlon Samuels, captain Jason Holder and pacer Kemar Roach. The squad features three uncapped players — opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, all-rounder Fabian Allen and pacer Oshane Thomas. — IANS

Ind vs WI in ODIs: 7 series wins in a row for India

Year Venue Result

2017 WI India won 3-1

2014 Ind India won 2-1

2013 Ind India won 2-1

2011 IND India won 4-1

2011 WI India won 3-2

2009 WI India won 2-1

2007 IND India won 3-1

Summary: India have played 18 ODI series vs WI. India have won 10 of them and lost 8

West Indies had won first 5 bilateral series against India

West Indies last won a series in India back in 2002 (4-3)

Numbers game

221 Virat Kohli is 221 runs away from breaking the record for the least innings taken to reach 10,000 runs. Sachin Tendulkar reached 10,000 runs in 259 innings. Kohli has played 76 less innings to get to 9,779 runs

0 Times West Indies have been whitewashed in an ODI series in India