India vs West Indies 2014: 5 personal milestones that can be achieved in the series

The India vs. West Indies ODI series, which starts on October 8, will provide us a glimpse of where both teams are placed ahead of the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February-March of next year.

Although the conditions on offer will be vastly different from what they will be facing during the World Cup, both sides will still be keen to make a mark in this series and get some confidence under their belt leading up to the showpiece event.

Though the series doesn’t offer much, there are a few personal records which can be accomplished during the tour:

1. Virat Kohli – 1000 runs vs West Indies

Virat Kohli

The 25-year old had a horrendous tour of England recently, scoring just 134 runs from 10 Test innings at an average of 13.40 and, with 54 runs from 4 matches, was equally poor in the following ODI series. There is no doubt about his class, though, and it is now time for him to get his career back on track with a fruitful series against West Indies and show everyone that the England tour was just a blip.

He also has an opportunity to become just the fourth Indian batsman, behind Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar (1573), Rahul Dravid (1348) and Sourav Ganguly (1142), to score 1000 runs against West Indies in ODI cricket. He currently has 919 runs to his name against the men from the Caribbean, and needs another 81 runs to be amongst elite company.

He also has to score just one more fifty to have 10 fifties against the West Indies.

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2. MS Dhoni – Most sixes by an Indian against West Indies

MS Dhoni

Another key component of India’s batting in the World Cup will be none other than captain MS Dhoni. His average of 53.11 in ODI cricket clearly illustrates that he has been remarkably consistent right from the outset, but he has been even more exceptional over the last 12 months, having scored 769 runs from 21 matches at an average of 76.90 in that time period.

He will want to continue his good form against the West Indians, and it is only natural for him to score a relatively major chunk of his runs through sixes. With that being the case, the Indian captain is well on course to becoming the first Indian batsman with 25-plus sixes against West Indies in ODI cricket. He has hit 21 sixes against West Indies so far, and only Herschelle Gibbs (25) has hit more against West Indies in world cricket.

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3. Ravindra Jadeja – 25 wickets vs West Indies

Ravindra Jadeja

As far as the Indian bowling is concerned, Ravindra Jadeja, along with Ravichandran Ashwin, can be expected to once again make major breakthroughs for his captain, especially considering his record in spin-friendly conditions.

He is just four wickets away from 25 ODI wickets against West Indies, and considering West Indies’ ineptitude against spin, it wouldn’t be surprising if it takes just one game for Jadeja to reach that landmark. Only Anil Kumble (41), Harbhajan Singh (33) and Ravi Shastri (27) have taken more wickets with spin against the Windies.

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4. Dwayne Bravo – Rare double of 3000 runs and 200 wickets

Dwayne Bravo

The Dwayne Bravo-led West Indies were in India last year for a 3-match ODI series, a series that they lost 2-1. Bravo would not only be keen on avenging that defeat but also becoming only the tenth cricketer to score a double of 3000 runs and 200 wickets in ODI cricket through the course of the series.

He needs just 59 more runs and 4 more wickets to do so. In the process, he will also be keen on improving his ODI record against India. He has taken 24 wickets from 22 matches at a bowling average just under 35 and has an average of 21.18 with the bat, having not scored a hundred as yet.

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5. Marlon Samuels – 700 runs against India in India

Marlon Samuels

Marlon Samuels, meanwhile, also has a personal milestone in his sights. Samuels, who brought up his first ever ODI hundred against India in Vijayawada way back in 2002, has a chance of becoming just the second West Indian, after Carl Hooper (806), to score 700 runs against India in India, having scored 649 runs from 20 matches till now.