One of the best all-rounders in the current era, Jason Holder has been infected with Covid-19 and is unlikely to take part further in the ongoing three-match ODI series against India. Holder was earlier rested for the Bangladesh Tests, ODIs, and T20Is and head coach Phil Simmons was quite happy to welcome him back for the series against India. The 30-year-old’s absence now will be a huge miss considering his experience and his skillset. The former captain has the ability to bat in the top six and can bowl in different phases of the game.
He is also one of the safest fielders and would have made a huge difference to the inexperienced West Indies side at the moment. West Indies’ new captain Nicholas Pooran, during the toss in the first ODI, confirmed that Holder has contracted Covid 19 and mentioned that the team remains the same from the last assignment against Bangladesh. “Unfortunately Jason [Holder] has Covid so he misses out. It’s pretty much the same guys who played in the series against Bangladesh,” Nicholas Pooran said at the toss during the first ODI. Meanwhile, the first ODI between West Indies and India went right into the wire and the Shikhar Dhawan-led side managed to escape the scare from the hosts.
Chasing 309 to win, West Indies fell short by just three runs despite the assault in the death overs from Akeal Hossein (32*) and Romario Shepherd (39*). Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan stole the show with a 97-run knock at the top of the order while Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer scored half-centuries. Despite the good start, the middle order crumbled for India as India posted 308/7 in their allotted 50 overs. However, the Indian bowlers held their nerves towards the back end and helped India secure a victory in the first ODI. The second ODI is scheduled to take place on the 24th of July at the same venue of Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.
