CHENNAI, (Reuters) – India’s middle order vulnerability apart, the co-hosts should hold the edge over an inconsistent West Indies in the last World Cup Group B round-robin match in Chennai on Sunday.
At stake is the final order where the teams finish in the group with South Africa already confirmed as its winners. The next three qualifying places for the quarter-finals are all in the balance depending on how this game finishes.
India are likely to play off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-handed middle order batsman Suresh Raina as part of their plan to give every player at least one game before they start the knockout stage campaign.
Opener Virender Sehwag is doubtful because of a problem with his right knee and India are unlikely to risk him in the match, especially since they are already through to the quarter-finals.
West Indies, meanwhile, are smarting from Thursday’s defeat by England and they may draft in senior batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul to prop up their fragile batting order.
For a team possessing exciting stroke players such as Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, West Indies need someone to anchor their innings and Chanderpaul fits the bill.
West Indies’ three victories all came against lowly teams — the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland — and Sunday’s match is their last chance to beat a top-flight team and carry the confidence from that into the knockout stage.
Also on Sunday, Zimbabwe take on Kenya in a relatively inconsequential Group A match in Kolkata in terms of the tournament, both having failed to qualify for the last eight.
