Pretty surprised that some people feel WI can win a series here (either ODI or tests). We did see how India smashed a team like Australia 4-0 in a home series. Dhoni's captaincy assumes different levels when he has familiar home conditions and the potent option of Ashwin and Jadeja (in spin friendly home conditions) in his pocket. Also not to forget, Dhoni's batting becomes even more powerful at home (he already has had a decent tour with the bat in England). I would be very surprised if WI even win a test match, let alone a series. And I am not being overtly optimistic about India or overtly pessimistic for WI. Its the truth. India is a very strong side at home. In fact, we are almost getting back to those days where India were "tigers at home, kittens abroad".
The issue I have is, this series is a waste of time since its precedes the Australia tour and the World Cup. I would rather have our players taking ample rest and prepare themselves for a tough tour Down Under (which eventually culminates into the World Cup). Maybe the ODI's could be kept (for WC preparation), but the tests are just not needed.
Reading what i said, i did throw in the major caveat that i could have egg of my face despite WI obvious talent, they are the worse team to back conclusively because they can self destruct (especially as a batting group).
But what is a obvious fact is that since IND beat a terribly selected WI team in the concocted Tendy farewell series, IND have played poor cricket vs SA, NZ, ENG in 2014, despite it being overseas.
IND since ENG won their in 2012, have not faced a strong opposition at home & that series exposed the factor that many felt before that series that IND potentially don't even have the luxury of being confident of winning at home if a solid team arrives in tests especially. That AUS 4-0 win was vs a AUS team in total turmoil (homework gate etc), so that is a distorted example. I'd firmly back the new AUS that won the ashes & beat S Africa to be the first AUS team to win in IND since 2004.
What were the faults the ENG series exposed?
- Ashwin/Ojha/Jadeja have a long way to to be the same force at home like Kumble/Harbhajan were
It is noticeable, that since the 2012 series how few tests Ashwin has played, especially overseas. Whether its IND selectors stupidity as suspect or what, he clearly stopped being the clear # IND test spinner after that, although that might have changed during the back end of the recent ENG tour again.
- IND batting right now is vulnerable, especially the two new stars Pujara/Kohili after their poor tour to ENG. IND middle-order/top order doesn't carry the same fear factor like when Tendy & co was around. So their is no better time for the WI bowlers to bowl @ Pujara/Kohli.
Basically i see the same holes in IND that thought ENG could exploit in 2012 & they eventually did, that i believe WI playing to full potential can repeat.
I'm glad you mentioned the tour is a waste of time though from a IND perspective & its another example of your the BCCI flogging your team under the FTP/ICC revamp crap, just as much as their influence is messing up world cricket
WICB is possibly the BCCI favourite board, given the impact WI players has had in IPL. How else do you explain WI being chosen as Tendy's farewell series opponent or the fact that WICB president was elected on the ICC revamp 5-man committee?
This tour is simply a way to help WICB get money as thank you for that. But as you say it totally not needed for IND coming off the ENG tour & preparation for AUS tour/W-Cup, IND team should certainly be resting now for sure.
That potential burnout issue is another reason why i think IND are vulnerable to a WI upset.
