West Indies can still celebrate a moral victory, even if they lose the TVS Cup. Written off after the second Test and expected to be guinea pigs for India's experiments for the World Cup, they came close to surprising themselves at Jodhpur. But Ricardo Powell dropped an easy catch off Sanjay Bangar when India were 169 for 6, and helped keep the series alive at 3-3. Bangar, who finished the match for India, was an example of unexpected heroes flourishing in this series. Murali Kartik, another in that category, could find his aggressive spin bowling getting more value from the Indira Gandhi Muncipal Corporation Stadium wicket at Vijaywada.

The pitch – not among the ten re-laid tracks in the country – is expected to ooze runs but could offer some turn as well from a dry surface. The curator told the media he had stopped watering the pitch for the past two days.

In which case, the captain winning the toss will have a doubt or two to smother before announcing his decision. That's after, hopefully, any doubts about the legitimacy of the toss have been quelled.

A fit Harbhajan Singh is expected to reclaim his place in the side and save Rahul Dravid the mental gymnastics needed to plan an attack with just one specialist spinner. India got away with it in Jodhpur; they will be foolish to risk it again in the decider.

Barring niggles turning worse, West Indies are likely to retain the same side that valiantly came close to defending 201 – a total that was a stark aberration for a side in splendid batting form, particularly their openers Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds.

For want of alternative options, Dinesh Mongia could hold his place in the side. But it seems back to the domestic Ranji Trophy for poor Reetinder Singh Sodhi, whose surprising return to the Indian team lasted three balls before some demon in him produced the kind of thoughtless cricket that ends international careers. After both Yuvraj Singh and Dravid fell in the earlier two successive overs, Sodhi tried hitting Corey Collymore out of ground – with India needing just another 53 in 16 overs.

Carl Hooper complained of travel fatigue in his syndicated column today; playing seven matches in 18 days across six Indian states were enough to have two weary teams tottering into Vijayawada on Friday afternoon. Neither side had the energy for a peek at the wicket. Strong minds will have to prevail over tired bodies on Sunday.

Dravid offers a fine inspiration in that mind-over-matter department– he had to win matches with his bat, keep wicket for nearly 300 overs, nurse a sore back, and then, at a critical stage in the series, handle the captaincy. He deserves a rest, more than anyone else.

At least, Parthiv Patel could have been tried in the last two matches to lighten Dravid's load. Instead, a crucial cog in India's ODI machine is being treated like a condemned workhorse. It shows how much India's selectors are out of form.

Probable teams
India 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Dinesh Mongia, 3 VVS Laxman, 4 Rahul Dravid (capt & wk), 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 Mohammad Kaif, 7 Ajit Agarkar, 8 Sanjay Bangar, 9 Murali Kartik, 10 Harbhajan Singh, 11 Javagal Srinath.

West Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Wavell Hinds, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Carl Hooper (capt), 7 Ricardo Powell, 8 Ridley Jacobs (wk), 9 Corey Collymore, 10 Vasbert Drakes, 11 Pedro Collins.

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