Seeking sunshine
With 2019 World Cup qualification on the line, Windies players will have to keep winning, sort issues
The Indians didn’t practice on Wednesday and stayed back at the hotel looking to collect their thoughts following the coach-captain fiasco that led to Anil Kumble’s resignation. Kumble had in fact taken charge in June last year and the West Indies Test series was his first assignment. India won that handsomely. They’ve been playing non-stop cricket since then and have been largely coasting through.
The series against a depleted West Indies team could be a mismatch but then the recent developments will give the home side hope.
Former West Indies cricketer Gus Logie, who was part of the glorious side of the 1980s, feels India are outright favourites but the recent happenings give West Indies some hope. “But it could be a double-edged sword. India and Virat Kohli are hurting after that Champions Trophy final loss and they might take the anger out on West Indies just like we did back in 1983 just after the World Cup.”
After losing the 1983 World Cup final to India, the Caribbean side, with Logie part of it, toured India and smashed the daylights out of their opponents.
Skipper Virat Kohli, criticised by former players like Sunil Gavaskar for forcing the exit of Anil Kumble, will have a point to prove. Anything less than a 5-0 win in the ODIs would be considered a setback and set the tongues wagging. M M M WEST INDIES