'Don't read too much into India's form in England' – Stuart Law

India's last Test series was a gruelling five-match series in England, which the visitors lost 4-1, but Stuart Law, who was watching the affair closely, knows that India competed a lot better than the scoreline depicts. He is also well aware the playing at home, India will be that much more formidable an outfit.

Windies themselves have shown some improvement – in their recent home series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – they looked like a well-rounded side, winning three of the five Tests in all. Law praised his team for displaying improvement but accepted that the challenge in India, starting 4 October, would be a different kettle of fish against the team ranked No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings.

"We have spoken a lot (about the series)," Law said on Tuesday, 2 October. "We played two good home series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. At the same time, I don't read too much into India's form in England. I was there watching pretty closely. It was a lot closer than the 1-4 scoreline. England were just able to win the crucial moments.

"India are the number one side, we are further down the ladder (at 8). We are playing in their own backyard, it is a huge task. Not many teams have come here and won. We understand that but on the flipside we are getting better and better," Law added.

Windies haven't enjoyed too much success against India in recent times – they last won a series against them in 2002 at home, and in India they haven't won a Test since 1994. But Law sounded confident of Windies' preparations ahead of the first Test at Rajkot.

"We spent good eight days (in Dubai) before we came to India. It was 45 degrees during the day in Dubai so heat here won't be an issue. Then we had a good couple of days in Baroda (in the warm-up game against an India Board President's XI), the pitch was similar looking to what I see here today. Preparation has been good.

"We have talked a lot but it is time now to stop talking. It is time the boys show what they have got on the field.

Law is particularly confident about the spinners at his disposal and hopes they can make an impact in favourable conditions against India the way Moeen Ali did against them in England.

"Moeen Ali really took to India in England, bowling into footholes. We got to use what is available. Roston Chase is a bit taller than Ali, bowls at similar pace. Devendra Bishoo and Jomel Warrican have got some good control as well," said Law.

But Law knows that bowling to a batting line-up led by Virat Kohli won't be an easy ask. "(Kohli) is great in other countries and not just in India, he is a great batsman. Like I said it is not bowling to the name, it is about bowling to the batsman, then your job becomes a bit easier. And he is not the only one in the batting line up."