India vs West Indies Preview Indian Team

As Sachin mania grips the joy city of Kolkata, Indians change into whites and ball is changed into red.  What this means to fans is a slow progress of in the scoreboard, and an increase in the heart beat as the ball whistles past the nose. Yes you got it right, Tests against West Indies always means pace, bounce and hostility. Eden gardens has always produced a sporting wicket, the pitch is good for seamers at the beginning, and as the game progresses definitely assistance for the spinners.

But with lot of rains over the past couple of weeks one could expect a low and slow pitch, but the curator has confirmed that it would be an even bouncing wicket, which translates into a run feast. Not to an extent in the ODI’s but comparable, after all batting is India’s strength and a home team prepare pitches to suit them.

This series can be viewed from two different points of view, first Sachin’s farewell, and second India’s preparation for the upcoming South Africa series, but I am sure the former would overtake the latter.

Indian opening for the first test looks solid as an ice cube, looks strong from the outside, but when the pressure or heat increase the weak link Vijay is going to melt out. Australia couldn’t crank up some pressure wonder if WI can. Never the less its an home coming for him, he made his debut against WI when Gambhir had missed out last time.

Dhawan is in an infinite form, yes that the word I have come up with, ever since he has scored that big debut hundred and twirled his moustache, he has looked in sublime form. He has played a lot of ODI’s and T20’s since then and has shown hunger for runs. India can depend on him to deliver on the even-bounce Edens. 

Pujara has made sure that we don’t miss the al-mighty Wall. The fact that the fans don’t talk about his performance or lack of it itself is a compliment. It means once less headache for the captain and team management. And he has been in good nick playing India-A tours and piling up loads of runs.

Tendulkar might not be in the form of his life, but rest is assured he would not miss an opportunity to go on a high; he is a man of big occasion, and nothing bigger than homecoming. Plus, WI isn’t the best bowling lineup and add that curator has proposed an even-bounce wicket, which translates to flatter track. 

Once would like to Virat shine in whites, already touted as the next big thing in colored clothing, I guess this series would be a perfect platform to hone his test skills. Last time he had played against WI in WI, the world saw a struggling side of Virat, one can only he responds strongly this time around.

M S Dhoni should step up both as a captain and a top order batsman and fill in the No.6, though he doesn’t have the best of the techniques for it but definitely has the adaptability factor. Plus who can forget his recent double hundred against Australia that changed the course of the game and series. If Dhoni is given a solid platform then he could be the most destructive batsman even in tests. But the team management thinks otherwise, and has been trying out Raina, Yuvraj and Rahane. Now the talented kid Hitman is in the line.

Between them, Rahane is the best of the lot, because of the shear amount of runs at the domestic level and not to forget IPL and CLT20. Though T20 isn’t a perfect parameter to judge someone’s temperament, but this is how it works in Indian team. Rohit is a perfect example. With Sachin retiring after series, technically we would have two spots to fill up.

Absence of Jadeja means that Ojha gets a shot, and with Ashwin looking out of colors he need to put his best foot forward. Indian spin department has become a game of musical chairs. Hope Ojha grabs his seat with both the hands. Since tourists aren’t a great opponents spin, it would be interesting to see how he bowls.

Ashwin looked in good touch Australian and he troubled the lefthander on the dusty Indian pitches, but since then his form has taken a pause like his delivery stride, hope he gets into some form before the all important South African tour.

Umesh and Bhuvi should share the new ball, that 30 run over was just an icing on the cake for Ishant Sharma, this break would help him to understand his drawbacks and come back stronger.