Such is nature of cricket that very few people right now remember India’s ignominy of the English summer when they were blanked out in all the games. The fact that England were given a taste of their own medicine in the return series helped the fans and players get over the disappointment. India after making a clean sweep in the five match ODI series almost repeated the dose on West Indies in the Tests, save for a thrilling last ball scores level draw at Wankhede that limited the score line to 2-0.
Keeping their recent record in mind, it is safe to say that India are a better limited-overs unit by some distance when compared to West Indies. After all, they are the reigning world champions with some of the best in the business among their ranks. Despite selectors giving skipper MS Dhoni and star batsman Sachin Tendulkar a much needed break, India still pack a punch with the talented crop of young players.
In Dhoni’s absence, Virender Sehwag will don the role of captain after about two years. Along with the swashbuckling skipper, the batting line-up is full of attractive stroke makers like Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and young sensation Virat Kohli. Since, Sachin is not playing the first three matches hoopla around the hundredth hundred will not occupy mind space of Indian supporters.
In the bowling department, India is trying to fine-tune the combination before the Australia tour. On tracks expected to aid spinners, R Ashwin will spearhead the relatively inexperienced attack. Rookie pacers Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav would be looking to impress before the tour down under begins as only one of them can figure in the playing eleven in the Boxing Day Test.
For West Indies, the series will be last bit of international action before a three-month lay-off. As such, they would want to return home on a high. But, selection issues that have plagued them for most part of 2011 once again crop up. It is a pity that Chris Gayle who was such a hit in this year’s IPL isn’t playing in the national team. Absence of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, supposedly side-lined due to ‘lack of form’, is another case of West Indies cricket suffering because of internal problems.
Although, the visitors have some exciting players in the form of Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons and unconventional spinner Sunil Narine, beating India in India would be a tough ask. Their only hope is to catch India off-guard.
India squad: Virender Sehwag (Capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ajinkye Rahane, Manoj Tiwary, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav, Rahul Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar
West Indies Squad: Darren Sammy (Capt), Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Danza Hyatt, Anthony Martin, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons
© eContent.in
