With team's much-vaunted batting coming under flake following the dramatic collapse against the Proteas in the last game, redemption will be at the top of priority for India when they take on West Indies in the last group match of the world cup in Chennai on Sunday.
India's bowling was never billed as hot and with batting too coming under scrutiny, Dhoni and company would like to bring everything back on track before moving into the knockout stage.
The defeat of Bangladesh at the hands of South Africa means that India is already assured of quarterfinal place and therefore the team can afford to experiment and work out the right combinations for matches to come.
West Indies are also almost assured of their place in the knockout stage except of course a catastrophic unprecedented defeat. Though the team has shown improvements in this world cup, it still needs to prove itself against top nations.
India
For all the hype and hoopla that surrounded men in blue's world cup build up, they have not been able to live up to the expectation. While bowling continues to be team's weak link, the fact that batting, too, collapsed on more than one occasion, has clearly added to the woes of team management.
Of late, skipper Dhoni has also come under the radar of media and fans with his decision to persist with Chawla and not giving Ashwin a look-in receiving widespread criticism.
The pitch of Chennai has been a spinner's paradise. And with Swann and Tredwell scripting an English win over the West Indies a few days ago, India may play Ashwin to accompany Harbhajan and Yuvraj in spin department.
Bowling at death has also been a concern for India and this will be the last opportunity for Dhoni to work out the right candidate to do that job.
However, on the brighter side, India's first three batsmen have been in imperious form throughout the world cup with Sehwag, Sachin and Gambhir all among runs.
Tendulkar has scored two centuries in this world cup and with his tally of international tons reading 99, Indian fans would hope for the master batsmen to bring up his 100th ton on a ground he has always loved playing on.
Squad
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt./wk), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, R Ashwin, Ashish Nehra.
Coach: Gary Kirsten
West Indies
West Indies would look to avoid the kind of collapse they had against England in the last game. Batting collapse has now almost become a pattern for the Caribbean team as the side twice let the game off their control when playing top teams in the world cup.
The team is full of stroke players with Gayle, Bravo and Pollard all capable of tearing apart any team single handedly. However, the lack of patience and ability to mix caution with aggression among the batsmen have proved the team's undoing on too many occasions.
In the bowling department, West Indies will be led by their charismatic new ball bowler Kemar Roach who has been in sterling from in this world cup. Andre Russell was also impressive in the last game and with young Bishoo impressing one and all with his spinning prowess against England; West Indies appear a bit ahead as far variety in bowling is concerned.
Squad
Andre Russell, Chris Gayle Darren Bravo Darren Sammy (c) Devendra Bishoo Devon Smith Devon Thomas (wk), Kemar Roach Kieran Pollard Kirk Edwards Nikita Miller Ramnaresh Sarwan Ravi Rampaul S Chanderpaul Suleiman Benn
Coach: Ottis Gibson
--
Mahi
India's bowling was never billed as hot and with batting too coming under scrutiny, Dhoni and company would like to bring everything back on track before moving into the knockout stage.
The defeat of Bangladesh at the hands of South Africa means that India is already assured of quarterfinal place and therefore the team can afford to experiment and work out the right combinations for matches to come.
West Indies are also almost assured of their place in the knockout stage except of course a catastrophic unprecedented defeat. Though the team has shown improvements in this world cup, it still needs to prove itself against top nations.
India
For all the hype and hoopla that surrounded men in blue's world cup build up, they have not been able to live up to the expectation. While bowling continues to be team's weak link, the fact that batting, too, collapsed on more than one occasion, has clearly added to the woes of team management.
Of late, skipper Dhoni has also come under the radar of media and fans with his decision to persist with Chawla and not giving Ashwin a look-in receiving widespread criticism.
The pitch of Chennai has been a spinner's paradise. And with Swann and Tredwell scripting an English win over the West Indies a few days ago, India may play Ashwin to accompany Harbhajan and Yuvraj in spin department.
Bowling at death has also been a concern for India and this will be the last opportunity for Dhoni to work out the right candidate to do that job.
However, on the brighter side, India's first three batsmen have been in imperious form throughout the world cup with Sehwag, Sachin and Gambhir all among runs.
Tendulkar has scored two centuries in this world cup and with his tally of international tons reading 99, Indian fans would hope for the master batsmen to bring up his 100th ton on a ground he has always loved playing on.
Squad
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt./wk), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, R Ashwin, Ashish Nehra.
Coach: Gary Kirsten
West Indies
West Indies would look to avoid the kind of collapse they had against England in the last game. Batting collapse has now almost become a pattern for the Caribbean team as the side twice let the game off their control when playing top teams in the world cup.
The team is full of stroke players with Gayle, Bravo and Pollard all capable of tearing apart any team single handedly. However, the lack of patience and ability to mix caution with aggression among the batsmen have proved the team's undoing on too many occasions.
In the bowling department, West Indies will be led by their charismatic new ball bowler Kemar Roach who has been in sterling from in this world cup. Andre Russell was also impressive in the last game and with young Bishoo impressing one and all with his spinning prowess against England; West Indies appear a bit ahead as far variety in bowling is concerned.
Squad
Andre Russell, Chris Gayle Darren Bravo Darren Sammy (c) Devendra Bishoo Devon Smith Devon Thomas (wk), Kemar Roach Kieran Pollard Kirk Edwards Nikita Miller Ramnaresh Sarwan Ravi Rampaul S Chanderpaul Suleiman Benn
Coach: Ottis Gibson
--
Mahi
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