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India v West Indies preview: Dhoni’s World Cup plans start in Kochi
INDIA v WEST INDIES ODI SERIES
Stadium: Nehru Stadium
Time: 1pm (UAE time)
Live on: OSN Cricket HD
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni revealed India’s preparations for the 2015 World Cup will begin with the one-day international series against West Indies starting today in Kochi but insisted it will not take the focus away from winning.
“We want to see the bigger picture here. We want to do a few things (in the series) because you don’t want to go to (the World Cup in) Australia and say we should have done this, we should have done that.
“We will see what our cricketers can offer (against West Indies) and I will also see what best I can do,” Dhoni said yesterday. “But it is imp-ortant to start well and look to win the series. This is first and foremost in our minds,” he stressed.
India will be playing five one-dayers, one Twenty20 and three Tests against the Windies at home and then head to Australia in December to play four Tests followed by a one-day tri-series before the World Cup in February.
With regular opener Rohit Sharma ruled out of the series due to a finger and shoulder injury, Ajinkya Rahane is expected to open the innings.
Rahane, who had fared well in England in both Tests and one-dayers two months ago, could end up being India’s new opener at the World Cup, if Dhoni has his way.
“I personally feel Ajinkya has really held through his job as an opener, even in IPL he opens,” Dhoni said. “He has been very consistent against both seamers and spinners. He should take the responsibility of being the opener.
“Ideally, Ajinkya as an opener and Rohit down the order suits us but that is something we will have to wait and watch.
“Definitely we have some plans in that area. I still feel Ajinkya has much more to offer,” he added.
India will also be looking to plug some loopholes in the bowling dep-artment, which has haunted them in recent times.
Dhoni admitted his team’s death bowling is a “genuine concern” and they have a difficult road ahead if they don’t improve.
He said: “It is going to be tough. We have to get the executions right. We have to improve because we do not have too many fast bowlers who bowl quick and still maintain a good line and length. If you do not bowl quick and stray in line, it will be easy for a batsmen.
“Successful bowlers always bowl good yorkers and mix it up with slower deliveries.
“We are really working hard on it. We do hope that we will get it sorted out before the coming series (against Australia) and World Cup,” he added.
FORM GUIDE
India in last 5 games
L W W W W
West Indies in last 5 games
W W W L L
PITCH
It is an ideal sub-continent surface where spinners are expected to have a good run. Batsmen, especially those belonging to the visiting team, will have to tread cautiously.
WEATHER
The forecast is not good as showers and a thunderstorm is expected. The situation is so grim that the doomsayers have warned of a complete washout.
LIKELY TEAMS
India: Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami
West Indies: Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (WK), Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo (C), Jason Holder, Sulieman Benn, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach
KEY PLAYERS
India - Suresh Raina
The left-hander is in superb form and he will be eager to carry that into this series as well. A consistent run will set him up nicely for the upcoming World Cup.
West Indies - Dwayne Bravo
Following some fantastic displays in the recent Champions League T20, the Windies all-rounder will be confident of stepping up in his first big series since becoming captain.
