New Delhi, July 20: India’s next One-Day International assignment will be a three-match home series against the West Indies beginning on September 27, as the team shifts its focus to preparations for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.
The series follows India’s disappointing white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, where the visitors suffered a 4-0 T20I whitewash before losing the three-match ODI series 2-1 to England.
The West Indies will play three ODIs and five T20Is during their tour of India.
The ODI series will commence in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, followed by matches in Guwahati on September 30 and Mullanpur on October 3.
Before returning to 50-over cricket, India will play three T20Is in Zimbabwe later this month before travelling to Sri Lanka in August for two ICC World Test Championship matches, leaving a gap of more than two months without an ODI fixture.The home series against the West Indies will also mark the beginning of a busy ODI calendar for India. After the Caribbean challenge, the Men in Blue are scheduled to tour New Zealand for a five-match ODI series before concluding the year with a three-match home series against Sri Lanka.One of the biggest talking points ahead of the West Indies series will be the future of senior batter Rohit Sharma.Although Rohit’s brilliant 137 off 110 balls in the third ODI at Lord’s made him the first Indian to score an ODI century at the iconic venue, his place in India’s long-term plans remains uncertain.Reports have suggested that the selectors are looking beyond the former captain as part of their transition towards the 2027 World Cup, though the BCCI has denied speculation that the England series marked the end of Rohit’s ODI career.
The veteran opener has continued to produce consistent performances since relinquishing the captaincy, averaging nearly 47 in 13 ODIs.
However, questions have been raised over his changing approach in the powerplay, where his strike rate and boundary-scoring frequency have declined compared to previous seasons.
Selectors are expected to weigh Rohit’s recent form and experience against the emergence of younger opening options such as Yashasvi Jaiswal before finalising the squad for the West Indies series. (Agencies)
