Visakhapatnam, Nov 24 (DHNS): Quite like the iconic Bollywood item girl Helen, the cyclone by the same name made only a fleeting appearance on Friday, raising prospects of a full match here on Sunday.
With the cyclone losing its steam and rain staying away the whole day, the VCA stadium, the venue for the second ODI between India and West Indies here on Sunday, was abuzz with activity.
The ground staff was busy providing final touches to pitch and outfield, the host broadcasters were setting up their stalls and hundreds of policemen, camped inside and outside the stadium, were whiling away. The players from either side, however, were conspicuous by their absence. The lack of indoor facilities and the threat of rain possibly forced both the sides skip practice sessions which are normally optional.
India decided not to have the customary pre-match press conference also and the West Indies promptly followed the suit. The visitors though will be better of emulating India on field as well. After two Tests and a one-dayer, it appears as though West Indies have come here only to make up the number. Their performance so far has been dismal to say the least and definitely isn’t a reflection of the talent they possess.
Admittedly, West Indies are up against a side that is yet to lose a series this year. India, currently the No 1 ranked ODI side, have been at their dominant best conquering in varying conditions – from England to West Indies to Zimbabwe, where India fielded a second-string team under Virat Kohli.
It is, in fact, in the familiar environs of home that they have appeared slightly susceptible. England scored two wins in the five-match series at the start of the year while Australia notched up identical number of victories last month though India clinched the series on both the occasions. Given West Indies’ form, however, they don’t even seem to stretch India, forget winning a contest.
The few reinforcements for the three-match ODI series have done little to change their fortunes either. While there was nothing extraordinary about their bowling on a ‘bowler-friendly’ surface in Kochi, it’s the batting that is hurting them the most.
The top-order has not been able to capitalise on many good starts, including in the Tests. Even in the last match, they were going along smoothly at 142 for three when they lost their mind and then the momentum to fold up for an inadequate 211. That the Indian batsmen played Windies’ trump card Sunil Narine with little difficulty only added to their misery.
In a further blow to Caribbeans’ hopes of staging a comeback, their star opener Chris Gayle suffered a hamstring injury in the opening ODI and has been ruled out of the remaining two matches though the visiting camp maintained a strange veil of secrecy surrounding the extent of damage to the left-hander.
The big Jamaican hasn’t been among runs on this tour, but his presence always keeps the opposition bowlers on their toes. Even without Gayle, West Indies are a formidable batting unit in the shorter format. Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo are top quality batsmen up the order while skipper Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy can create havoc in the lower order. Not to mention their more-than-handy medium pace bowling.
But as Sammy remarked at the end of the Test series, West Indies are yet to turn up against a team that few things to worry about. Most of their batsmen have been in roaring form and bowlers have managed to hold their own despite handicapped by the conditions.
The Visakhapatnam pitch promises another run glut and a certain Kohli, who has two back-to-back tons at this venue, can hardly wait to come to bat.