India have just six of their World Cup-winning squad available for the limited overs part of their tour of the West Indies.
Raina to lead much-changed India team in West Indies one-dayers
India have just six of their World Cup-winning squad available for the limited overs part of their tour of the West Indies.
A one-off Twenty20 international in Barbados on Saturday signals the start of the Indian tour of the Caribbean, but they will hardly resemble the side that claimed the World Cup.
Just six of the 15-man squad which captured the World Cup in Mumbai two months ago will be taking part, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan the most notable absentees.
The hosts will not be at full strength though with yet another row between players and the West Indies Cricket Board brewing.
Former captains Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle missed the Pakistan series recently and again the experienced duo will not be present in the Windies line-up.
Raina captain
Left-handed batsman Suresh Raina will be leading India in the absence of the rested Dhoni and the injured Gambhir, just as he did with a weakened squad in Zimbabwe a year ago.
Duncan Fletcher will be making his international bow as new coach of India following his replacing of Gary Kirsten - who bowed out in style by winning the World Cup.
Raina and Virat Kohli will lead the batting attack along with Rohit Sharma, while the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Manoj Tiwary, and wicketkeeper-batsmen duo Parthiv Patel and Wriddhiman Saha will have the chance to show what they can do.
Paceman Praveen Kumar missed the World Cup with injury but is back eager to prove a point, and he along with Ishant Sharma and Vinay Kumar will lead the seam attack.
Gayle's big-hitting batting will again be missing for the home side, with the WICB saying he will not be allowed to return until talks have been held with him to clear up their disagreement.
Gayle missed the Pakistan tour reportedly because of injury, but then showed up at the IPL and stole the man of the tournament honours for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
That move has not gone down well and West Indies officials seem keen to teach him a lesson - similar to Chanderpaul, another experienced batsman missing out because of his critical remarks of the board.
