West Indies tri-series 2013: WI vs India Preview: India's Champions ready for Caribbean challenge

Dhoni has warned his men against complacency

Exactly a week after being crowned the Champions Trophy winners, the remodeled Indian team will open their Caribbean campaign against hosts, West Indies in the second game of the tri-series. International cricket can be gruesome and taxing, both mentally and physically, but not for the World Cup Champions and Champions Trophy holders.

This is not just another pointless tournament. Dhoni, warning against complacency, wants his boys to be exposed to multiple situations and gain enough experience to mount a successful defence of the World Cup.

Shrugging off the hangover of the cross-Atlantic journey, the young Indian side painted a rosy picture – practising rigorously and exuding confidence ahead of their clash against West Indies on Sunday.

West Indies are a dynamic ODI team, more so at home conditions. Dwayne Bravo has already thrown down the gauntlet to India, having dished out a 6-wicket hiding to Sri Lanka. “I know it is going to be a cracker of a game. Both teams are strong in batting and bowling,” said the West Indies skipper. Their number 8 ranking hardly does justice any to their ability. Can Bravo and company rekindle the glorious Caribbean spirit? Only time will tell us.

India’s opening combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma enjoyed a dream run in England, solving India’s opening puzzle. It may be recalled that Rohit (257) was the leading run-scorer when India were on West Indian shores last time in 2011. Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni possess both the experience and expertise to diffuse any crisis and explode later at the death. Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik, having ironed out the chinks in his armour, has metamorphosed into a solid batsman.

With Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja weaving magic, Amit Mishra will have to wait longer for his turn. The green pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Ishant have bed into the new set-up nicely.

Arguably, West Indies have the bowling attack to put the mighty Indian batting to test. Whilst the fast and furious Kemar Roach can send shivers down the spine of any top batsman, Ravi Rampaul can move the ball both ways. Sunil Narine may be 32 ODIs old but no batsman has managed to demystify his variations.

Much like India, West Indies have depth in their batting. However, much will depend on firepower of Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles at the top of the order.

Probable XIs:

WI: C Gayle, J Charles, Darren Bravo, M Samuels, K Pollard, Dwayne Bravo(c), D Sammy, D Ramdin, S Narine, R Rampaul, K Roach

India: R Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, D Karthik, S Raina, MS Dhoni (c & wk), R Jadeja, R Ashwin, B Kumar, U Yadav, I Sharma/ A Mishra

Players to watch:

Chris Gayle: It is easy to imagine Chris Gayle as an audacious pirate terrorizing the passengers on a vessel. The Jamaican pirate, terrorizing the Lankan bowlers got the tournament off to a rip-roaring start with a blistering, bonus point achieving 109. If Gayle continues to blaze away, it will be child’s play for West Indies. Considering Ashwin’s success against Gayle in the IPL, Dhoni may be plotting an early introduction of the offie.

Chris Gayle hit a brilliant hundred to start off the series

Shikhar Dhawan: Powerful, strong, dashing, incredible hand eye co-ordination, a glittering ear-ring; Dhawan’s similarities with Gayle do not end there. He is a pure match-winner as he showcased in the Champions Trophy. Returning to the venue of a failed comeback to the Indian team in 2011, Dhawan will be keen to prove a point.

Pitch and conditions:

The Sabina Park pitch is likely to ease out as the game progresses. Meanwhile, meteorologists have predicted chances of rain on Sunday.

Prediction: India will edge West Indies in a tight affair.