India aim to make it four in four against unpredictable West Indies

Events over the last two days relating to a tiff between vice-captain Virat Kohli and a senior Indian journalist have dominated news space, but Friday's Group B fixture against the West Indies presents India with an opportunity to shut out the distractions and continue their unbeaten run in the tournament.

It was expected that whatever transpired in Perth over the past two days would be the talking point when an Indian player attended the media interaction ahead of their game at the WACA ground. But as has been the practice, India sent out to the Man of the Match from their previous match, R Ashwin, for the pre-match press conference.

Ashwin's pragmatic interaction with the media meant the conversation largely focused on the game at hand and his performance in the previous game against UAE here, where he took career-best figures of 4 for 25. The offspinner's improving form in the tournament has given India more control in the middle overs where he has flourished by attacking the batsmen.

Pace bowler Mohammad Shami, who was rested for the previous game against the UAE continued to bowl at the nets, suggesting that he may return to take his place, but whether India would sacrifice Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had returned from an injury to feature in the game last Saturday, remains to be seen. Bhuvneshwar boasts of a strong record against the West Indies, particularly Chris Gayle, whose threat continues to linger with the big Jamaican having recently smashed the first double century in World Cup history.

Predictably, it should be the only area of selection where the Indian team management may have a long discussion about, as the rest of the bowling as well as the batting has impressed in the last three matches. While the top order have been amongst the runs consistently, the likes of MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in the lower middle order haven't spent enough time in the middle, and against Pakistan and South Africa they were unable to kick on after the top order had set it up for them. But with head coach Duncan Fletcher having rejoined the team, India would look to him as they hope to improve on that aspect of their game.

The West Indies, on the other hand, have enjoyed a long rest since their arrival in the city, and save for the odd practice session, have been limited to watching the action from their Group. A heavy defeat to South Africa has meant the West Indies can't afford any more lapses to stay in contention for a spot in the quarter-finals and the game against India will put them under extra pressure.

Gayle's back troubles have meant the batsman takes limited part in the team's practice sessions and after a light hit in the nets at the Murdoch University ground on Tuesday, he was seen having a long conversation with chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd, away from the rest of the team. Having given an interview about reconsidering his Test career, he may have been picking Lloyd's brains on reinforcing his belief after the mauling his team received at the hands of South Africa.

West Indies captain Jason Holder has fond memories of the WACA ground since he made his international debut here, but knows an opposition like India could easily trip them up. Holder was taken apart by AB de Villiers in the game at the SCG, and how the captain comes back after giving away 104 runs from his 10 overs will speak volumes about his character at the end of Friday's match.

Kemar Roach was rested for the previous game but the conditions at the WACA may prompt the West Indies to include him in the side. On both days of the West Indies training, their bowlers were seen practicing death bowling with diligence with the likes of Roach, Jerome Taylor and Andre Russell sending down numerous deliveries to get their yorkers right.

The West Indies have crossed the 300-mark in three out of their four matches but their bowlers have also consistently given away runs to make matters tough, and against India on Friday, they would be guarding against a repeat of their SCG performance. India would be mindful of that, and will look to target their bowlers, particularly their 23-year-old captain.

Probable XIs

India: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Ajinkya Rahane , 5. Suresh Raina, 6. MS Dhoni (capt and wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Mohammed Shami, 10. Umesh Yadav, 11. Mohit Sharma.

West Indies: 1. Chris Gayle, 2. Dwayne Smith, 3. Jonathan Carter, 4. Marlon Samuels, 5. Denesh Ramdin (wk), 6. Lendl Simmons, 7. Andre Russell, 8. Darren Sammy, 9. Jason Holder (capt), 10. Sulieman Benn, 11. Jerome Taylor/Kemar Roach.