'Spinners will return with at least five wickets' - Aakash Chopra makes his predictions for 1st WI vs IND ODI

Team India won the two-match Test series in the tour of the Caribbean. They won the first Test at Dominica by an innings and 141 runs and were forced by the rain to finish the second Test as a draw at Trinidad. Rohit Sharma’s men will now be looking to continue their dominance in the two limited-over series as well. The two teams will contest three ODIs and five T20Is next.

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The first ODI will be played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday, July 27. As such, popular cricketer-turned-commentator, Aakash Chopra who is known for the predictions he did during the entire IPL 2023, returned with his bold predictions. While during the IPL his predictions resulted wrong more often than not, Indian fans will hope this time he is correct because he predicts a win for the visitors.

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli to together score 150+ runs: Aakash Chopra

“My first prediction is that our three top-order batters, who are Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli - they will together score 150 runs. I don't know who will score how many. All three are in good form and have the ability, and will come with the intention of hitting. The Barbados pitch is generally decent, the side boundaries slightly shorter and the straight boundaries longer, but I think Rohit, Shubman, and Kohli - 150+ runs between the three of them," he commenced.

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"If Kulcha (Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal) play, then great, but whichever Indian spinners play, they will account for at least five wickets. I see Kuldeep Yadav playing," Chopra predicted on India’s bowling.

"My third prediction is that around 100-110 runs will at least be scored in the powerplay overs across both sides. I am thinking 5.50 runs an over, which is not really a bold prediction. It's possible fewer runs are scored because the ODI template has changed these days. You can give yourself time at the start if you are not targeting 350," he continued.

"India to win, that's my last prediction. You have World Cup contenders on one side and a team that has not even qualified on the other but there is still a lot of life in this clash because the World Cup countdown has started," the former India opener concluded.