STATS PREVIEW
Follow UsIndia start their long home campaign with three ODIs against West Indies, followed by three T20Is. Later on, Sri Lanka will tour India for two Tests and three T20Is.
Both teams have had contrasting series results in their previous encounters, of course, in different formats. India, cast down from a 3-0 drubbing against South Africa in the ODIs will be up against a high on confidence West Indian team that beat England (3-2) in the recently concluded T20I series.
However, the West Indies haven’t won a series against India in the last 16 years. They last won a bilateral series against India in 2006 in the Caribbean. Post that, in 10 series played so far, India have won all of those.
In the first ODI, starting February 6th, India are to embark on a special milestone in the format. Here are a few statistical review points for the series:
India set to become the first team to play 1000 ODIs
The two-time World Cup winners – 1983 and 2011 – will be featuring in the 1000th ODI, the first team to achieve the feat in the format. Starting their ODI career against England in 1974 in Leeds, India have played the most number of matches till now (999). With 518 wins in 999 matches, India have the most wins for a team in ODIs after Australia’s (581). In fact, Australia and India are the only two teams with 500+ wins in the format. Their win/loss ratio of 1.201 is the third best after South Africa (1.769) and Australia (1.739).
High scoring series
Though there is something for the spinners in Asian conditions, in recent times, the pitches have been on the flatter side, especially in India. In the last three ODI series played in India, each of those have witnessed a run rate of over 6. The last time West Indies toured in December 2019, the overall series run rate was 6.5. Against Australia in 2020, the series run rate was around 6.1 and in the last home series against England in 2021, the run rate was at 6.7. Interestingly, in each of the bilateral series between the two teams in India since 2000, the run rate has never dropped below the 5.5 run mark. Yet another high-scoring series cannot be discounted.
Two explosive teams
Irrespective of which country these two teams are playing, runs have flown at a brisk pace when the two have collided, especially in recent times. In ODIs since 2018, the run rate between the two contestants has been around 6.1 in 12 encounters. Among teams that have faced-off in five or more matches, this is the fourth-highest run rate between two teams in the aforementioned time. In the contest between England and West Indies, the overall run rate is around 6.6, which is the highest.
As for India, in the aforementioned time, they have scored at a run rate of 6.5 against the West Indies in ODIs, which is their best against a team. They have had five scores of over 300 in 11 innings they have batted (one innings was washed out).
Sixes galore
There is never a shortage of sixes when West Indies are playing, But India haven’t been bad either. In ODIs since 2018, West Indian batsmen have hit 431 sixes, the most among all teams followed England with 381 and then India 315.
In any case, between the two teams, there has been a lot of maximums. In fact, the 156 sixes hit in the contest between these two teams in ODIs since 2018 is one short of the most sixes hit between two teams. When India and Australia have met against each other in 15 matches, there have been 157 sixes.
Indian batsmen have hit 66 sixes against West Indies in 12 matches, their second-most against a team in ODIs since 2018. Whereas, West Indies batsmen have hit 90 sixes, which is the most against a team for them in this time frame. The 90 sixes hit by West Indies in this period is also the most by a team against an opposition.
As an extra, in the aforementioned time, a six has been hit every 42.9 balls in India. Only in the West Indies, the frequency is lesser (38.7 balls/six).
Bowlers have struggled in recent times
Bowling in India, let it be the home team or the visiting team, has been a difficult feat in ODIs since 2018. Runs have come by at a quick pace and mainly, picking up wickets has been a prolonged issue.
Leaking runs just doesn’t affect the economy rate of the bowlers, it also hampers the bowling average. While bowling in India, teams have bagged a wicket every 38.8 runs and 41.7 balls. Both the ratios are the worst for bowlers in a host country.
To add more to the agony of bowlers, there have been only eight four-plus wicket hauls (4+ wickets – 7 & 5WI – 1) while bowling in India. In countries where 10 or more matches have been played in ODIs since 2018, those eight are the least.
Spin struggles more than pace
Yes! You heard it right. It sounds odd for a subcontinent nation, but the spinners in general, have struggled to pick wickets in recent times in India in ODIs. Generally, the case is common in T20Is where pacers have a better strike rate than spinners.
However, in ODIs in India since 2018, the pacers have been way better than the spinners. The differences before weren’t alarming as compared to this four-year span. In the mentioned time frame, pacers have bagged a wicket every 37 runs and 38.1 balls with seven four-wicket hauls, including a five-for. Whereas, the spinners have picked up a wicket every 41.3 runs and 46.7 balls with just one four-wicket haul.
