Before going to Australia, India face the might of the Calypso Kings at home. The India vs. West Indies 2014 has created quite a buzz as every Indian fan and expert had said that this series is not challenging for India. It is their home ground and India is the no.1 ODI team in the world (now no.2 after being humiliated in the first ODI). Many were criticising why this series is even there with World Cup coming near.
However, the Calypso Kings have come to India and they are determined in what they want to do. The outcome of the first match which West Indies won convincingly, just goes to show the over confidence of the fans, experts and the Indian cricket team itself. The series have had many controversies regarding the ban on Sunil Narine to players opting to withdraw themselves from the series. West Indies even lost two practice games to the India A side and that too were no contest games. However the West Indies have shown the will power to combat challenging situations and crushed India in the first match. It is not going to be easy for India as they had thought it would be.
The West Indies are the T20 champions of 2012 and they play in the same manner in the 50 over game too. Even with the absence of Gayle and Narine, the way they completely rattled India in the first ODI might have given nightmares to Indian captain Dhoni.
Lot was spoken about improving India’s poor bowling especially in the death overs which was in fact better considering the conditions; India gave 81 in the last 10 overs. India’s batting line up is considered as the best with the likes of Dhawan, Kohli, Raina, Dhoni, but it failed miserably in the first encounter. Maybe, it was a good toss to lose for the West Indies as Saurav Ganguly too questioned MS Dhoni’s decision to bowl first.
Today’s match will decide India’s batting strength as India is batting first. On the other hand, West Indies will be looking to spoil India’s party. The match has already started.