The fifth and the final ODI of the series between India and West Indies will be played at Bridgetown in Barbados. The Indian side has already won the series but the loss in the fourth ODI will rankle them. On the other hand, West Indies will look to ensure that they can end the series on a happier note – a 3-2 scoreline would be much better than 4-1!
The West Indian squad has been changed around again. There are two players who have been replaced; Danza Hyatt, who had had a couple of abject failures and Kirk Edwards at the top. In walk in Ravi Rampaul and Adrian Barath, who seems to have recovered from his injury issues. It will be interesting to see the kind of bowling line-up that the West Indian side goes into the game with – there will be place of Barath in place of Edwards but it remains to be seen whether Rampaul will make it to the eleven.
In a way, a lot will depend on the kind of pitch that there is at Barbados. Usually known to be a hard pitch, if does have any bounce, it will make things interesting for the sides – especially given that the Indians do not enjoy the pace and the bounce.
If Rampaul has to walk in, it will thus be either in place of Anthony Martin, the spinner, or he will replace Kemar Roach. This is where the presence of Darren Sammy as a captain is a problem, when one would expect all three of them to play – Rampaul, Roach and Martin.
India will introspect as well. For the fourth time in succession, they fielded first and while they had the opposition on the mat at 103 for five, they allowed them to get away to 249 in their 50 overs. The decision to drop two of their main bowlers and replace them with two, who would have been rustier than most wasn’t the brightest of decision, which meant that the runs leaked towards the end of the innings.
India will probably look to get one of Harbhajan or Munaf back – it should logically be the latter given the nature of the pitch – and probably even play with three pace bowlers.
The batting could be a bit of a worry for India as well as the top-order hasn’t gone about their business in the manner that they would have liked. Time for one of the openers or Virat Kohli to bat through the 50 overs.