West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was a thorn in Indian flesh during the one-day series in the Caribbean earlier this year, which the hosts won 4-1. The 23-year-old now wants to continue the good run against India in Thursday's ICC Champions Trophy game, in Ahmedabad.
"The team will go in with confidence against India," Bravo said after the West Indies' net session in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
"We have an edge over India from the last 10 games; the guys believe in themselves."
India's batting looks shaky since the Caribbean adventure. Virender Sehwag, captain Rahul Dravid and key one-day batsman Yuvraj Singh, who is shortlisted for the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award, are all struggling for runs.
Bravo is more than aware of those woes and ready to exploit them.
"Indian line-up up and down at the moment; form of some the players is not quite there, but these are different conditions. Indians are comfortable at home and have scored lots of runs on these wickets.
"We are aware of that and are looking forward to that challenge."
In only two years since making his ODI debut, Bravo has emerged as a smart operator at the death. The slower ball is an effective weapon in his armoury. He had Yuvraj Singh bowled with one of those in the second ODI of the series in the West Indies, to take his team to a narrow one-run win.
The West Indies bowlers again brought it into play against Australia last week to stifle the Aussies and set up a 10-run win.
"It's something I learnt when I was very young. It has been very helpful but I am still working on it," said Bravo.
In the game against Australia though, it was Jerome Taylor who stole the applause with a hat-trick, the first by a West Indian. Bravo, who proclaims himself as the 'New Big Dog' (derived from Brain Lara's nickname Big Dog in his home town Trinidad) hopes to match his teammate's feat.
"A hat-trick is something I can't say about, but I am looking forward to a hat-trick against India. If the situation arises, I would love to take it."
The West Indies have been a mercurial side in the recent past, fighting back from hopeless situations while also throwing away games with their erratic play. The batting is largely inexperienced and that's the reason, Bravo states, why Lara has dropped himself down the order.
"Last game he batted at number six. That is one step we take, that he will be batting at six in this tournament and combine the middle order with experience and youth. That will give good balance to the team. Younger batsmen can play with some confidence at the top since they know that they have experienced players coming later.
"We have played two big games here; had one bad game against Sri Lanka in the tournament. The guys are working hard on batting, on the field as well. When the situation comes again, all the batsmen will put their hands up and perform."
The West Indians have got the better of India this year, winning five of the seven matches played, and after a thrilling win over Australia in the first game it will be a side difficult to tame.
