World Cup 2015 Group B Match 28 India v West Indies Preview: Gayle test for India

World Cup 2015 Group B Match 28 India v West Indies Preview: Gayle test for India:

Date: 6 March 2015          Time: 1200 IST
Venue: Perth

West Indies

West Indies had a nightmare against South Africa in their previous match. They had come with a clinical win over Zimbabwe and a Chris Gayle double hundred, but South Africa completely flattened them with a brutal display of big hitting. South Africa made 408/5 with AB de Villiers making 162* off 66 balls and he hit West Indian Captain Jason Holder for 64 runs in his last 2 overs ruining his bowling figures and Holder gave 104 runs in his 10 overs.

West Indian batting has clicked in matches against the weaker teams like Zimbabwe and Pakistan, but against good bowling line ups like South Africa, they have completely surrendered. West Indies made 151 to lose the match against South Africa by 257 runs. They will look to their batsmen especially Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels to take charge against India.

While they would hope their bowling could contain the lengthy Indian batting line-up. They will look in to bring their left arm spinner Suleiman Benn and Nikita Miller to try and put a spanner in Indian batting machinery.

It will all depend on how Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith and Denesh Ramdin perform against Indian spinners and fast bowlers.

India

India is riding a wave of absolute perfectness in all departments. Their batsmen and bowlers are performing to best of their abilities.

India bowled out UAE for just 102 runs with R.Ashwin taking a career best 4/25 and the fast bowlers used the bouncers effectively on the Perth pitch. Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma used the short ball to make UAE batsmen hop and duck. But bowling against West Indian batting like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith and Marlon Samuels is another thing. Dhoni will look to use spin to tie Gayle down or even dismiss him like he has done using Ashwin in IPL. Indian spinners liked the bounce on the WACA rather than the turn to cause trouble to UAE batting and will do the same to West Indian batting line-up. If they get Gayle, Samuels and Simmons early, more than half the battle will be won.

Indian batting is working like well-oiled machinery in its prime. Rohit Sharma got some much needed batting practice against UAE and some form. Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane will prove a tough exam for West Indian bowling which is currently reeling under the thrashing they received at the hands of South African batting. India would like to pile the same agony on their bowling and keep them under pressure if they bat first. In all, its India’s game to lose.

Last 5 ODIs:
India: W W W L NR
West Indies: L W W L W

Possible Playing XIs:
West Indies: Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Jonathan Carter, Sulieman Benn, Jason Holder (C),  Denesh Ramdin (WK), Nikita Miller, Andre Russell, Jerome Taylor

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (C/WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohd.Shami