Recent ODI form makes India favourites

Despite touring with a side that's missing several star players, India will start favourites in the ODI series in the Caribbean. On previous visits, India have always struggled, but will know fully well that this is the best chance to improve their poor record. India are coming in on a high after their World Cup triumph whereas West Indies, after a heavy defeat in the quarter-finals against Pakistan, have gone on to lose a home ODI series against the same opponent. West Indies have not won a single ODI series at home against a Test-playing nation after their 2-0 win over Sri Lanka in 2007-'08. They have lost five matches in a home series on four occasions since 2000, which is a clear indicator of how poor West Indies have become in recent times.

West Indies, though, will derive confidence from the fact that they have a 5-3 record in head-to-head matches played in the Caribbean since 2005. They have a better batting average and run-rate when compared to Indian in these games. India, however, have the edge when it comes to the matches played between the two teams since 2000. They have won 18 and lost 14 of the 33 matches played since 2000. In all matches played between the two teams since 2005, India have been even more dominant, winning 11 and losing eight games while boasting a much better average and run-rate.

West Indies' ODI form has fallen away drastically after the 2007 World Cup. They had performed fairly consistently until that point winning the 2004 Champions Trophy and making the finals of the 2006 edition. After a 4-1 win in the home series against India in 2006, West Indies have struggled badly home and away. When the performance of the two teams since the beginning of 2008 is compared, India are the much better side, and have a win-loss ratio of 1.93, which is slightly lower than South Africa and Australia. India also have a high batting average (37.14) which is second only to South Africa (38.87). West Indies have a woeful win-loss ratio of 0.42 during the same period and a batting average just over 27. Among major teams, West Indies have been the only one to score less than five runs per over. Although India's bowling figures are slightly expensive, the numbers are not very impressive for West Indies either; they average 32.16 and concede 5.04 runs per over.

Suresh Raina, who leads the inexperienced Indian squad, had a fairly successful World Cup, and has been an important member of the ODI side in recent times. Since the start of 2009, Virat Kohli who averages 46.02 has quickly established himself as a permanent member in the ODI team. For S Badrinath and Rohit Sharma, this is an excellent chance to perform and cement their places in the team for the upcoming tours of England and Australia. On the bowling front, R Ashwin, who impressed during the World Cup and the IPL with his variety and accuracy, will be the key on the slow tracks against a West Indies side which struggled against quality spin in the recent series against Pakistan. Praveen Kumar, who has recovered from an injury that kept him out of the World Cup, will spearhead the attack with Ishant Sharma, who is looking to make a comeback into the team.

Chris Gayle, who had an outstanding IPL, has scored four centuries against India in ODIs, and his absence along with the unavailability of Shivnarine Chanderpaul is a major loss to the West Indies who have been plagued by numerous problems with their batting. Lendl Simmons, who performed superbly against Pakistan in the recent ODI series will be the key at the top of the order. The experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan, who has scored over 1000 ODI runs against India at an average of 63.47 will be relied upon to hold together an otherwise brittle middle order. The bowling looks in much better shape for the West Indies with Ravi Rampaul displaying very good consistency after his five-wicket haul against India in Chennai during the World Cup. Andre Russell was impressive in the World Cup, and he, along with the talented Kieron Pollard, will complement the experienced Dwayne Bravo who is also returning after an injury picked up in the early stages of the World Cup.

Among the three grounds where the ODIs are going to be played, Trinidad has proven to be the most spin-friendly track. Spinners average less than 28 in Trinidad but as high as 73.61 in North Sound. North Sound has the highest average runs per wicket but surprisingly the lowest boundary-run percentage among the three venues. Importantly, none of the grounds have provided any advantage to teams batting first or chasing.