On paper as well as on current form, West Indies are no match for defending champions India, who have registered convincing victories against Pakistan, South Africa and UAE in their first three matches of the ICC World Cup.
On a roll with a hat-trick of victories under their belt, a rampaging India will look to continue their winning run against an inconsistent but dangerous West Indies in their fourth group league encounter of the ICC World Cup, at the Gabba in Perth, on Friday.
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The Indian juggernaut has rolled with such speed that it has crushed arch-rivals Pakistan, pre-tournament favourites South Africa and minnows United Arab Emirates under its wheels while being firmly perched at the top of Group B.
On the eve of the match, India would hope that the off-the-field controversy surrounding vice-captain and team's batting mainstay Virat Kohli's conduct doesn't turn out to be a distraction in an otherwise smooth campaign so far.
India's clash against the West Indies has all the ingredients of a cracker but the Caribbeans have never really performed well against India since 1992 in Wellington, when they last won the contest at the global event.
On paper as well as on current form, West Indies are no match for defending champions India, who were near flawless in their three matches with thorough professional performances.
All the Indian top-order batsmen have contributed in some form or the other in the first three matches while the bowlers have silenced their critics with some solid show which makes them clear favourites against the young Jason Holder-led team.
Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan have struck form from the start of the tournament while Suresh Raina made useful contribution in the first match against Pakistan.
Rohit Sharma missed out in the first two games but against UAE, got a decent hit out there in the middle with a half-century. The performance of the specialist batsmen have in fact covered the grey area which is skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's indifferent form.
Among the bowlers, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been the best with eight wickets and a mean economy rate under present field restrictions.
Pacer Mohit Sharma has been the surprise package for India in the tournament while Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and a half-fit Bhuvneshwar Kumar have come up with more decent performances.
The Indians have to be wary of the Chris Gayle factor as the big Jamaican can change the complexion of a game in a matter of a few overs.
One had witnessed the Gayle's sensational hitting in Canberra with the poor Zimbabwean bowlers facing the brunt of his blazing blade as he raced to the first ever double century in the history of World Cup.
West Indies, though, would be hoping Gayle can be more consistent with his match-winning knocks as he registered just three and four against South Africa and Pakistan respectively on either side of the magical innings of 215 against Zimbabwe.
Gayle does have a point to prove against India as it will not only assert his supremacy but also help West Indies inch closer towards smooth sailing into the knockout rounds.
However, Gayle has had problems against some of the Indian bowlers and two names that immediately crop up are that of Bhuvneshwar and Ashwin.
The UP pacer's fitness has been dodgy from the start of the Australian tour in December but his ability to trouble Gayle and left-handers in general could prove to be handy.
With Mohammed Shami reporting fit, it will be a choice for skipper Dhoni as to who he picks in the playing eleven. Whether preference is given to Bhuvi's swing or Shami's hit-the-deck ability on a hard WACA strip, will be known on Friday.
Another bowler, who has troubled Gayle is Ashwin with his carrom ball and the conventional off-breaks. The reason being Gayle is not known use his feet much.
While Gayle factor can't be avoided, West Indies also boast of a few other match-winners in their line-up. Opener Dwayne Smith can prove to be a dangerous batsman and has experience of playing against the Indian bowlers in the Indian Premier League. Similary, Marlon Samuels is also capable of leading the West Indies to glory with the bat.
More than batting, the problem for the Caribbean outfit has been their bowling attack which certainly lacks the balance. Their fifth bowler has been a headache and that's where the value of Dwayne Bravo, who was not picked for the World Cup, is time and again being understood.
Bravo's batting at No 6 or 7 and the death overs bowling is sorely missed by Holder. Both Andre Russell and Darren Sammy are batting all-rounders and their bowling is not expected to pose problems for an in-form Dhawan or Kohli.
Skipper Holder, in fact, looked totally clueless against the onslaught of AB de Villiers as he went for 104 from 10 overs.
Jerome Taylor has threatened in patches but there is not much to write about the West Indian bowling attack.
All in all, it's advantage India once again.
Factbox on Friday's World Cup Pool B match between India and West Indies at the WACA in Perth: (Reuters)
INDIA
Captain: Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Coach: Duncan Fletcher
Squad: Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Akshar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma
Results so far at 2015 World Cup:
Beat Pakistan by 76 runs
Beat South Africa by 130 runs
Beat United Arab Emirates by nine wickets
Best performers so far: Dhawan (224 runs), Kohli (186 runs); Ashwin (8 wickets), Shami (6 wickets)
Remaining Pool B matches: v Ireland (March 10); v Zimbabwe (March 14)
WEST INDIES
Captain: Jason Holder
Coach: Stuart Williams
Squad: Holder, Marlon Samuels, Sulieman Benn, Johnson Charles, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor
Results so far at 2015 World Cup:
Lost to Ireland by four wickets
Beat Pakistan by 150 runs
Beat Zimbabwe by 73 runs (Duckworth/Lewis method)
Lost to South Africa by 257 runs
Best performers so far: Gayle (258 runs), Marlon Samuels (192 runs); Jerome Taylor (nine wickets)
Remaining Pool B match: v UAE (March 15)
India v West Indies head-to-head:
Total played: 115
West Indies won 60, India won 52, tie 1, no result 2
Last meeting:
October 20, 2014 - Match in Kolkata abandoned without a ball being bowled.
