West Indies vs India Mid-Series Report

Two matches into the four match ODI series between the West Indies and India and it is the home side who will be happier with their performance so far.

India won the first of the two Kingston matches in a high scoring thriller at Sabina Park. The 20-run winning margin flattered the Indian side as the West Indies very nearly got up to chase the 340 run target. Yuvraj Singh’s blistering 131 from 102 balls proved to be the difference.

But Yuvraj was unable to rescue his side from the pathetic start of 7 for 3 after India again won the toss and batted in the second of the two Jamaica matches.

India captain Dhoni, who scored 95 runs said, “Yuvraj is the man in form, he is getting the runs for us but we can’t expect one individual to score in one and every game.”

India had misread the pitch, which was still damp after being heavily watered the night before. The Indian batsmen followed each other back to the pavilion one by one as the ball kept finding the edge of their bats.

Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards had the tourists reeling at 82 for 8 in the 22nd over. A 101-run ninth wicket partnership between MS Dhoni and RP Singh saved the visitors from total embarrassment as they posted 188 all out.

But Chris Gayle and Runako Morton ensured that the Indian defeat was still a crushing one. Their 101-run opening partnership came off only 92 balls and the hosts levelled the series as they chased the required total with eight wickets and 95 balls in hand.

The West Indies would be justified in feeling hard done by in the first match. Runako Morton was given out caught behind to a delivery that his bat did not touch. Not long afterwards, Dwayne Bravo was given out caught at mid-off to what should have been called a no ball as the Ishant Sharma delivery reached him at least a foot above his waist.

The Indian team looks tired and unhappy. Their body language suggests that they would rather be on holiday. By contrast the West Indians under Chris Gayle look motivated and cheerful. Watching the side give debutant Darren Bravo his ODI cap before Friday’s match, the West Indies looked like a team in the true sense of the word.

The half brother of Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, opened his ODI account with 19 runs off 16 deliveries after striking his first two deliveries in international cricket for fours. He was only at the crease for half an hour but it was enough to show us why everyone keeps comparing his strokeplay to that we used to see from his his second cousin once removed, none other than a certain Brian Lara.

Chris Gayle said after Bravo’s debut, “He didn’t show any form of nerves, being around his brother actually calmed him down a bit. He did well batting and in the outfield as well and hopefully he can get a bigger score if the opportunity comes across him again.”

On paper, India is a better side than the West Indies – even without missing key players like Sehwag, Tendulkar and Zaheer. But they do not look like a team that is hungry for victory.

The Indian team has two major problems. It is exhausted and its batsmen appear helpless to short-pitched bowling. I can’t see either of these issues being remedied before this series is over.

The West Indies has retained the same 13-man squad for the remaining two matches, which are to be played at Gros Islet in St Lucia on Friday and Sunday.