India Elect to Bat Against West Indies, No Bhuvi in XI

Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat against West Indies in their World Cup fixture at Old Trafford.

India have won the toss and elected to bat first against West Indies.

(Photo: AP)

Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday won the toss and elected to bat against West Indies in their World Cup fixture at Old Trafford.

India have gone with the same team which played against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, West Indies have made two changes in their line-up. They have brought in Sunil Ambris and Fabian Allen in place of Evin Lewis and Ashley Nurse.

“We are gonna bat first. Looks like a hard surface. It’s a used pitch expect it will slow down. I think closing out situations and capitalising will be the key. We have the same team.”

Virat Kohli

The team that has batted first in Manchester in the previous three World Cup games has successfully defended its total. West Indies had a narrow five-run loss to New Zealand at the same venue last Saturday and must win its last three group games to have any chance of making the semifinals.

“We wanted to bat too well. Hopefully we get early wickets. We have got two changes. Sunil Ambris comes in for Lewis and Fabian Allen comes in for Nurse. Evin’s struggling for the last couple of days. We are getting closer. Today’s another opportunity.”

Jason Holder

Playing XI

India: Lokesh Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(c), Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni(w), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope(w), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder(c), Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas