The Indians, which leading the three match Test series 1-0, may have to make some changes to their batting line-up on a Windsor Park track which is expected to offer pace and bounce. Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has ensured a continuation of his unbeaten record in a Test series but he will have to take a call if Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli are to get yet another chance after their disastrous outings so far in the Caribbean.

India vs West Indies: 3rd Test Preview

If Dhoni persists with Vijay and Kohli, with the realization that they are better bets for future than either Patel or Badrinath, he would have no such hesitation in replacing Abhimanyu Mithun with Munaf Patel, who himself hasn’t played a Test for over two years, despite his limited overs heroics this year.

West Indies, if anything, are in a bigger batting mess than India. While India has turned to experienced Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman to bail them out in the two Tests, West Indies haven’t had such luck with Ramnaresh Sarwan who has been left out in favour of Kieron Powell. India are hoping that two of its key members hit their strides in this Test. Dhoni, despite two wrong decisions awarded against him, has only 23 runs at 5.75 average from the series, and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is still two short of his 400-wicket haul, having claimed five wickets at 35.60 average from the two Tests.

There is little else that West Indies can do though there is a general perception that Kemar Roach, widely regarded as the fastest of all, would be a better bet than someone like skipper Darren Sammy, especially given the pitches on offer.

How important it is for India to seal the victory in Test Series? Let us have a look at the history of India’s test series victory’s in West Indies:

1970-71 West Indies   West Indies: 0    India: 1   Drawn: 4

India’s best tour to date was also West Indies’ fourth straight series defeat, and their second at home. The decisive Test was in Trinidad where Venkat took 9 for 149 in the match, eclipsing Jack Noreiga who returned 9 for 95 in India’s first innings.

2006 West Indies        West Indies: 0   India: 1   Drawn: 3

Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Zaheer Khan, came agonisingly close to victory in the first Test in Antigua, before West Indies’ last-wicket pair played out 25 balls to escape with a draw. The second and third were played out in similar fashion. It all set up the tone for a classic final Test in Kingston, which swayed one way and the other before India wrenched victory. Rahul Dravid, at the peak of his powers, played out of his skin on a track as treacherous as any seen, his 81 on the first day was executed with a shield – he dodged the dangerous deliveries and kept out the straight ones – his second-innings 68 was played with a sword. India rode on the captain’s master classes, and some inspired bowling from Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, to seal their first series win in the Caribbean in 35 years.

Tags: Caribbean, Cricket, India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Test Series, West Indies, Windsor Park