Problems for Dhoni's men ahead for clash with West Indies

It's a fact sheet that should worry the national selection committee and team management apart from the Board of Control for Cricket in India which is anyway attending to matters that seem more important than on-field performances.

Sure, India are missing the big-hitting Virender Sehwag and are now left without pacer Praveen Kumar, who is no slouch when it comes to moving the ball both ways. But injury issues cannot be converted to excuses.

Today, they take on the West Indians in a must-win game. Though their stocks have taken a beating over the years, Chris Gayle's men won't hold back the short stuff at a ground where India have always struggled.

Doubtless, Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor are licking their lips. Saturday was not spent toiling in the nets.

Instead, coach Gary Kirsten decided to have extended video sessions at the hotel.

India's poor show against Australia which came after rousing wins over Afghanistan and South Africa give consistency a poor name. The frenetic manner in which their batsmen went about tackling the Australian bowlers reflected a disorganised approach. The shortest form of the game demands quick thinking and risks, but that does not mean the poise factor can be uprooted and discarded.

Poor approach

Dhoni, who emphasised the need to stay at the wicket and eschew the clout-every-ball approach on match eve would have been livid with his men for ignoring a clear-cut gameplan.

The skipper's "you can't spoon-feed everyone" comment after the game against Australia highlighted his consternation.

Sunil Gavaskar, who scored seven of his 13 hundreds against the West Indies on Caribbean soil was distressed by the manner in which the batters failed to slug it out.

"It's the way you play that matters. The batsmen should have hung around and waited for bowling changes.

After all, each bowler is allowed only four overs in T20 cricket," said the little master.

Former West Indies paceman Colin Croft harped on the fact that the Indian openers were clueless against the quick stuff.

With India's cricketing credibility at stake, the world seems to be a tougher place to live in for Dhoni's men.

Over to Kensington Oval!

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