JAVAGAL SRINATH: Important for India to beat Windies and top Pool B

In terms of talent, they have it in plenty. Where they have a problem is in executing their plans. A lot rides on Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. They have match winners in Andre Russell and Darren Sammy but they are the type who need a platform to be laid first. The consistency has to come from the likes of Gayle, Samuels and Dwayne Smith, who need to take the responsibility for long stints. That will allow Russell and Sammy, who are experts at short finishes, to play their part. You can’t expect the latter duo to win a game from scratch but create a situation for them and they can be deadly with the bat.

The bowling has to do a lot more to get it right. Being quick like Jerome Taylor and Jason Holder are is fine but pace isn’t everything, it has to complemented by accuracy. They have to bowl in the right areas.

That’s something that Suleiman Benn does well. He is a true strike bowler in that there’s no middle ground for the big man. If you attack him he can go for plenty but it can also inspire him to bowl better. Benn is always ready to take chances and doesn’t mind going for runs.

Benn’s Indian counterparts Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will undoubtedly have a big role to play too. The West Indies are better players of pace than spin, so both Ashwin and Jadeja will have to deliver. They too, like their team, will have to bear the expectations of pressure.

I don’t expect any change to the Indian team but should Mohammad Shami be fit, then Mohit Sharma, despite doing a good job in the opening games, will have to make way. It will be a challenge for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to make the right call but Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s greater experience should see him retain his place now that he seems to be fit again.

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