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Keen contest on the cards

With the Test series behind us, it is now time for the ODIs. My feeling is this West Indian side is a much better ODI outfit than a Test team, and India should not take its opposition lightly.

India is a confident side, which has earned the respect of its adversaries. In the one-day series, the home team will be without Sachin Tendulkar, still the youngsters have done well enough over the last few months to suggest that even without the maestro, the side has in it to notch up victories.

The seniors like skipper Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid have performed their roles, and they have been complemented well by Virender Sehwag, Mohammed Kaif, Yuveraj Singh, with the last two lifting the standards of fielding as well. The Indians don't really have too many worries in batting.

However, the side is still in search of an all-rounder and it is good that Railways' J.P. Yadav has been given a place in the XI for the first one-dayer. He can strike the ball well, is a useful paceman and possesses a strong throwing arm.

Yadav has been in fine form in domestic cricket, cracking a hundred and coming up with a six-wicket innings haul in the Irani Trophy game recently, and this is indeed the ideal occasion to give him a feel of the international competition. I hope Yadav makes the most of his debut.

He was in the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, but did not receive a look-in. And now with a couple of slots available, the all-rounder has got a welcome break.

The Indian attack may have its task cut out in the absence of Zaheer Khan. The left-arm paceman has easily been the pick of the Indian bowlers in the ODIs over the last six months, and he will be missed.

The Caribbeans have some punishing stroke-makers in Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle and skipper Carl Hooper, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul can play the sheet-anchor role. Marlon Samuels running into form during the Kolkata Test also augurs well for the Windies, he is also a useful off-spinner.

The West Indian bowling will be looking at Merwyn Dillon to provide the breakthroughs, while Cameron Cuffy is not the easiest to score against. The stage appears set for a hard-fought series.

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