What

The first One-Day International of the five-match series between India and West Indies

When

November 29, 2011. The game begins at 14:30 pm, IST. The match is a day-night affair.

Where

Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. India have not lost a game at this venue since November 2003 when they lost to New Zealand by four wickets. The wicket for this match promises plenty of runs, which could mean that India, given their batting firepower, can extend their winning record at this venue.

The Teams

India are without the services of MS Dhoni who has been rested for this series. Virender Sehwag has been named skipper, a role he is returning to after the last three ODIs of the five-match series against Sri Lanka in 2009-’10.

Dhoni has been India’s star in the last two ODI series that India has played. He was the Man-of-the-Series when India finished on the losing side in England (0-3) earlier this year and also played a couple of crucial match-winning knocks when England were thrashed 5-0 by India in October. Without him in the side, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina will have to play a bigger role in the middle-order.

West Indies have a better chance of beating India in the 50-over format. They proved their mettle when they came back to win the last two games of the five-match ODI series against India in the Caribbean in June this year. Also, their ODI series win against Bangladesh (2-1) just before this tour would boost their confidence.

But winning in India is a difficult proposition, as most touring sides have discovered in recent times. For that to happen, the West Indies will have to lean heavily on their batsmen to delivery consistently good scores.

Trivia

• Of the last 25 games played at home, India have lost only two ODIs (both versus South Africa). Of the other 23 games, they have won 21 while one match was tied and one was abandoned.

• West Indies have the second-best winning percentage (58.97%) against India in India, after Pakistan (62.96%).

Venue Stats:

India – played - 13, won - 9, lost – 4, tied – 0, no result – 0

West Indies – played - 2, won - 0, lost – 2, tied – 0, no result – 0

Highest total in an innings: India 301/3 in 50.0 overs v Zimbabwe - April 9, 1998

Lowest total in an innings: Pakistan 148/9 in 50.0 overs v England - October 22, 1989

Best individual score in an innings: Mohammad Azharuddin (India) – 153* v Zimbabwe - April 9, 1998

Best bowling figures in an innings: Darren Powell (Australia) 10.0-2-27-4 v India – January 24, 2007

Average first innings score at Barabati Stadium:

In day/night matches: 236

In all matches: 231

Result summary at Barabati Stadium:

Head-to-head:

Last ODI meeting between India and West Indies: Jun 16, 2011 at Kingston

Brief scores: West Indies (255-3) beat India (251) by 7 wickets

Form guide (most recent listed first):

India: Won, Won, Won, Won, Won (5 wins)

West Indies: Lost, Won, Won, Won, Won (4 wins, 1 loss)

The Squads:

India: Virender Sehwag (c), Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ajinkya Rahane, Manoj Tiwary, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav, Rahul Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar

West Indies: Darren Sammy (c), Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Danza Hyatt, Anthony Martin, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons

All stats are as onNovember 27, 2011