After a terrific start to the series then have fallen from sky to the earth due to their batting failure in the second ODI at Kingston and there dream of winning the ODI series in West Indies can be shattered if they loose third ODI against West Indies at St Lucia.
Indian team will be looking to get edge closer to rare series victory in West Indies, on the other hand West Indies after an emphatic win in 2nd one day international is confidant of taking 2-1 lead in four math ODI series.
The area of concern for the Indians is getting more and more. In the first ODI West Indies batsmen able to get closer to the target of 340 runs due to some poor bowling by the Indian bowlers while in second ODI there batsmen failed to read the pitch and at one stage they were in danger of getting bowled out for less than three figure marks but thanks to M.S.Dhoni and R.P.Singh partnership of 101 runs for the 9th wicket that saved some pride for the Indians otherwise it could have been more embarrassing defeats for the visitor.
In both matches, India have looked a below-par version of the side that before coming to the Caribbean had lost only three of their previous 18 matches, and had climbed to No.3 in the ODI world rankings.
Indian captain despite of making valiant 95 runs for his team doesn’t look comfortable at the crease that he is known for. He has tried many deliveries of Suleman Benn to hit put of the park but connected only once.
West Indies captain Chris Gayle and many of his teammates is hopeful of putting good show against India at St Lucia to take unbeatable 2-1 lead in the four match series. Chris Gayle is hoping for another good show from his bowlers to restrict the famed Indian batting lineup to gettable total.
Watch out for
Ravi Rampaul: Who have thought that the guy who is making comeback in the team will ran through famed Indian top order in no time. But he did exceptional job for his team and with such kind of performance his confidence is sky high at the moment. But it will be interesting to see how he tackles the pressure situation.
Gambhir and Rohit Sharma: Two consecutive failures in two innings for both man is not they use for. So we can expect something special from these two young Indian lads during 3rdSt Lucia. Another failure at No.3 for Rohit Sharma is something he can not afford after scores of 4 and 0 in the series so far. ODI at
Pitch & Condition
The pitch at Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia will be another good wicket for batting. But as we have seen in the series so far team batting first need to be more cautious in the first hour or so to put up a good total. All in all it will be another batting paradise with some assistant for the spinner in the later part of the inning.
West Indies captain Chris Gayle have no other reason to change the winning combination and he is likely to go with same XI.
Likely Playing XI for both Teams (Match is Schedule to begin at 19:00 PM India Time)
India Squad: Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni (Captain & WK), Yuvraj Singh, S Badrinath, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Ashish Nehra.
West Indies Squad: Chris Gayle (Captain), Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (WK), Jerome Taylor, Ravi Rampaul, Suleiman Benn, Ravi Rampaul.
Stats
The average score while batting first on this venue is 243 runs. Team batting second have won on seven occasions and lost at nine. Highest score at this venue is 363 while lowest is 146 runs.
West Indies have played nine ODI at Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia, winning five and losing four. However India have never played any ODI at this venue.
R.P.Singh and M.S.Dhoni 9th wicket stand in the last game was record partnership against West Indies while fourth highest partnership in the history of cricket.
