DHAKA: Undefeated champion India will play against West Indies in the teams’ ICC World Cup Pool B match at Western Australia Cricket Association Ground in Perth on Friday.
The match will kick off at 12:30pm Bangladesh time.
India, in previous in three matches of the tournament, has ticked almost every box required for them to defend their World Champions title. All three wins have been easy. India’s all-round performance made them look easy. India will also look to give games to the reserve players before the knockouts begin.
West Indies’ performance has swung from brilliant to abysmal in their four matches, losing to Ireland and South Africa and beating Pakistan and Zimbabwe. This game is also crucial for them in terms of their standing in the points table. Although ranked third currently, below India and South Africa, West Indies have Pakistan and Ireland trying to pip them to the post.
India’s Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out of the previous game with a knee issue, bowled in the nets. Shami's replacement, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, has claimed Chris Gayle many times in the past. Mohit Sharma was hit in his right hand during a training session, but should be fit to play after x-ray scans revealed no major damage.
West Indies’ Kemar Roach was largely confined to sitting in the team dugout during training, indicating no changes in the make-up of the West Indies attack for the WACA pitch.
India’s R Ashwin says they are not looking at the quarter-finals already. "I don't think we're there. There are three games (left) and Ireland's also played good cricket. We like to treat every game like it's a knockout game so that it propels us in a good state."
West Indies captain Jason Holder talked about spending time with the India captain in the Chennai Super Kings dressing room. "I've picked up a lot from Dhoni. He's a good leader. He's a guy who is respected in the dressing room."
Team
India (possible)
1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ajinkya Rahane, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Mohammed Shami, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav
West Indies (possible)
1 Dwayne Smith, 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Jonathan Carter, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 6 Lendl Simmons, 7 Darren Sammy, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Jason Holder (capt), 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Sulieman Benn
Umpires - HDPK Dharmasena and NJ Llong
TV umpire - BF Bowden
Match referee - RS Madugalle
Reserve umpire - MA Gough
Sources: bcci.tv, ESPNcricinfo
BDST: 0930 HRS, MAR 06, 2015
