West Indies tri-series 2013: Five reasons why India will defeat the West Indies

It has been a sudden meltdown for India after the triumph of the Champions Trophy. And while the defeat to the West Indies in the first game could have been discounted for, the humiliation against Sri Lanka must have hurt.

It was one of the most ordinary performances that this team has delivered in the last couple of years. The insipid display was a clear indication of lack of motivation, wearied minds and fatigued bodies. It is important to make the observation why the team is in such a shape. The amount of cricket being played is definitely sucking the pleasure out of the game – for the viewers as well as for the players. That, however, cannot be the excuse for a lacklustre performance at a competitive event.

Meanwhile, reports are coming in that Duncan Fletcher’s spell with the team is likely to be extended till the end of the 2015 World Cup. He would have had a job to do after the crushing defeat against Sri Lanka, and one hopes that the body language of the team changes for good.

Stand-in skipper Virat Kohli is not a person who takes defeat easily, and he would be pushing his boys hard when they come out to play the do-or-die game against West Indies. Given the state of the points table, India will need to win both their matches to have any chance of reaching the finals. The remainder of this series will be a challenge to this young squad, and will bring to light the character they exhibit under pressure.

Here is a list of five reasons why India can win the match against the West Indies:

5. Test of character

Today’s match will be a test of VIrat Kohli and his team’s character

One expects this team to bounce back after the humiliation they suffered against Sri Lanka. The ‘new attitude’ of this young Indian side was hailed at the Champions Trophy, and everyone talked about how they looked like winners from the very start of that tournament.

That self-belief has been missing so far; but as Virat Kohli put it, it was a ‘reality check’ for this side. If India have ambitions of being the best side in this format of the game, they will have to show that they do not depend upon any one individual and that they can negotiate with unfamiliar surfaces. A lot of that ambition has to realize itself through the captain, and Virat Kohli will have to deliver on that account.

4. Rejuvenated pace battery

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be back after a one-match break

India’s pace battery was hugely under-rated at the Champions Trophy, but it played a massive role in India’s triumph. Bhuvneshwar Kumar spearheaded the attack with his swing bowling and consistently delivered early breakthroughs, whereas Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma chipped in with crucial wickets.

However, they have failed to replicate that success on the slow and dry surfaces of the West Indies. It is a young lot and this tour can be a big learning curve for them. The coaching staff would have worked with them and they would have realized that it is important to exploit the swing that the new ball offers. A few wickets up-front are critical, after which they can make use of slower deliveries and hinder the batsman from playing free flowing shots.

3. Spin wizards

The spinners will have to find their groove today

Indian spinners troubled the West Indian batsmen in the last game and brought India back into the game from an unlikely situation. They will enjoy spin on the dry surfaces, but the lack of pace allows the batsmen to make that adjustment. Ravindra Jadeja enjoys bowling with that extra yard of pace and if he can extract a bit of spin for that odd delivery, he can create doubt in the batsman’s mind. They will have to find a pace that allows them to curb the singles so that pressure can be created. MS Dhoni is very astute with his field placements in the middle overs and Virat Kohli will need to replicate that.

2. Virat Kohli

Kohli will have to play multiple roles today

The stand-in skipper will have to perform multiple roles for his side on the day. He has failed to score a big innings in this series and as the best batsman in this Indian side, he needs to do better.

He has looked in fine touch, but has tried to attack too quickly. He must retrain himself from the temptation of stroke-making in the initial part of his innings. Considering that the pitches are much slower, he will have to work hard on his shot selection and suspend a few shots. This is something that Rohit Sharma continuously fails to do. Furthermore, as captain of the side, Virat Kohli will have to ensure that the team is alert and energized in the park. They cannot afford to put in yet another half-hearted performance in this do-or-die match.

1. Counter-Attacking batting

The Indian openers have the capability to take the game away from the opposition in the early overs

The Indian batsmen have been subdued in the previous two games and have failed to acclimatize to the slowness of the surfaces. The inability to get off to a healthy start puts the middle order in a rut. It will be be the responsibility of the opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to give the likes of Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina a platform to build upon. They should gauge the pace of the pitch for the first couple of overs and exhibit a bit of aggression after that in order to unsettle the bowler’s line and length. Shikhar Dhawan has the aptitude for that kind of batting. A burst of runs in the first ten overs and India will be on the road of recovery.