India handed pace bowler Auqib Nabi his ODI debut in the second match, replacing allrounder Nitish Reddy to strengthen the bowling attack. West Indies made four changes, bringing in allrounder Sherfane Rutherford, allrounder Keemo Paul, and left-arm wrist spinner Vitel Lawes, while opener Justin Greaves was ruled out due to a calf injury and replaced by Keacy Carty.
The West Indies have not won a bilateral ODI series against India in 18 years, with their last victory coming in 2006 by a 4-1 margin at home. Since then, India have won all 12 bilateral series between the sides. According to West Indies captain Shai Hope, his team views this challenge as an opportunity to test themselves against the best. "Playing anyone in their home conditions will always be challenging," Hope said, but emphasized the importance of adapting to subcontinental conditions.
The pitch at Barsapara Cricket Stadium has more grass than the first venue, typically favoring spinners, though batters are expected to find scoring relatively straightforward during the day. India leads the three-match series 1-0 following Sunday's eight-wicket triumph in Thiruvananthapuram. The West Indies are ranked 10th in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings and cannot secure automatic qualification for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup after the second ODI concludes.