I do not think that would make a big difference for the West Indies as long as they get a good start by their opening pair.

This is really weird. Replacing Sreeshanth who is the most in form bowler and the best one at the moment for India with a new comer while a non- performer like Agarkar gets the nod all the time. Is this good for the team?? Maybe...strange logic...

Lara,s absence will cost West Indies a lot provided that India score 300 plus total as in Nagpur. Otherwise for a total of 200-250 will not have much effect and that's what West Indies will try.

i dont think lara's absence would affect the west-indian batting line-up to a great extent coz considering the previous match and the matches played by the west-indies last year, most of the youg guns were pretty consistent in their performance and moreover chanderpaul is also in good form after his knock in nagpur.I think india can walk through this match too.

I think Lara has got a good thinking cap; Gayle may not match Lara's standards.

With Yuvraj, Kaif and Raina sitting out, I wonder what the in-fielding would be like. But of course what you do in the pitch is more important than what you do on the grass (assuming the pitch doesn't have grass on it!)

Traditionally the ball keeps low during second innings in cuttack. irrespective of dew factor chasing 250 will be a problem. The absence of experience of lara will hinder WI prospects.

Lara's absence could make a difference. But, Gayle and Chanderpaul can be equally devastating. I still don't understand why we keep experimenting in the Indian Team. If Joginder had to get a chance,why not rest Agarkar rather than Sreesanth? His last match performance was no worse than Agarkar. As he is getting into the groove to be ready for World Cup, here we go again! Upsetting the rhythm of the team seems to the routine with Indian camp

Today's match will test the true character of batting. Cuttack pitch is slow and nippy like the West Indian Sabina Park. So, we can consider this as a prelude match to the World Cup.

India might have a problem if all the new comers turn to be gud performers. Whatever people say, India cannot go into the world cup without sehwag and pathan, it would be a big risk. Now Gambhir has performed in the first match,so did whoever batted. And now they have two more new people Jogindher Sharma and Romesh Powar(not new, just not a permanent member), if they also perform well,with the bat , then India is in deep trouble, whether to go woth the new guys who dont have much experience, or bring in pathan and sehwag, who are presently out of form, but on their day they can blast the opposition out.So lots of trials at this stage doesnt seem advisable for the Indian Team.

A hardcore Indian Fan, always be with India, and want to see India win this World Cup

It's not going to be a much of difference in Lara's absence.With the kind of fielding and messing around with simple catches , Indians are always vulnerable to loose a match even after scoring 400+ runs.

lara never played his best against India. So i feel his absence doesn't make much difference. We have to wathc out Gyale & Chandrapaul.

while experimenting to build up a team for the upcoming worldcup,i think we are forgetting the current game plan a bit.for example in today's match there are no electrifying fielders in the circle like Yuvraj,Raina .we have good slip corden,but sorry to say that we don't have good out fielders apart from sachin and agarkar.

Its time India wakes up and smells the coffee in preaparation for the world cup. Nagpur ODI was a moral victory for the Windies for scoring 314. India needs to trust Powar , Joginder , Piyush Chawla , JP Yadav to try and deliver and be prepared to experiment with them before the world cup. What a waste of slot by putting Raina and/or Karthik....India's regular bowlers are giving 6 runs and over...why not let the allrounders bowl instead..at least their batting comes handy...also why bring Powar so late down the order...give that man a chance..

As a ritual, lately Indian Batsmen fail abroad and excel at home. Onthe other hand, the Bowlers perform well abroad but are pedesterian at home (source: last few India vs. Opposition series).It's high time consistently non performing players such as Shewag, Tendulkar, Raina, Pathan be 'rested' and in form players irrespective of age are brought in the team. Even if India win the series against W. Indies much should not be read onto it. Because WI are by world standards a mediocre team and without Lara they are not much a force. And the way India huffed and puffed towards the 14 run victory, it certainly did not inspire confidence. India need to perform otherwise don't see how they are going to progress beyond the group stage in the World Cup..

Lara is a genius & will be missed,but no stopping Wndies if India fails to score in excess of 265.It's gonna be a Gayle clypso today!!

Indians should play to their potential and leverage their strengths rather than looking West Indies without Lara. Good opportunity for Joginder. Best of luck to him

Its very fair that Joginder gets a chance in this match. And I agree absence of Lara would be the key. lets not forget Sarwan is not playing this series as well. My 2 cents on India today. and mumbai were 0/5 with Irfan taking 3 wkts and Patel 2 wkts.. Come on son.. Show the world what you are capable of ..

An in-form player like Sreeshanth needs to be given a longer run to get his groove in the one-dayers. One suspects Dravid and Chappell have already locked into using some players for the World Cup.

He is a strike bowler and should be considered for all the matches till the WCup. Playing Kumble and Harbachan together is another no brainer. Hopefully, these guys will stop experimenting and start giving everyone a chance to get into the right groove.

Hopefuly yhr focus to prepare the team for the worldcup is not lost in the din to win matches.

Dravid: "When we pick a lot of youngsters, the criticism was that there are not enough experienced players, so when you pick the experienced players you have to accept that the fielding is not going to be brilliant."

My question is: Why do we have to accept this? All other sides have seniors who are great fielders, even Tendulker in India is a great fielder - i just don't buy the fact that a senior has to be a bad fielder... i don't get it...

Still we don't have 11 players, we should take out our name from world cup.

Experiments are going on? Do you have any answer? Please tell the public? We are 4 matches short from world cup?

target gangu with short stuff outside off.... this time he may not b lucky as in last match!

I don't really think that lara's absence is going to effect WestIndies.Because the best opening pair is still there & I am absolutely sure that Gayle will Handle everything.He is an agressive cricketer and he will attack the indians.And attack is the best policy in cricket.

Ya That's true... Lara is a kind of player who will try to catch any score, in absence of him, it will be very difficult for other west indians to have mantelly strong after such situation. and that's a great advantagwe for india,

Lara's absence is not going to matter until its a very close game. Anyways does anyone seriously think he will not have access to what Lara thinks when he needs to decide something crucial. It is a big day for the debutants. They will not have many chances like these with the world cup around the corner. Looks like a run fest to me.

Raina Selected But Not Played,Then D. Kartik Now Playing The 2nd Oneday,Then How Can You Jugde The Form of Raina. The selectoin process should have consistancy like form of players. In my view it is a foolish type of selection process which'll demoralise players as well as people of india

I think Dravid's decision to Bat first going to Backfire. Bcoz there will be due factor in the second innings. When u have two spinners u have to have concern over the due factor also. As match progresses pitch keeping low and slow. My prediction is this is going to be a low scoring match. And unless dravid use spinners early its going to be WI day.

There is no one in the current Indian Team who can "graft" and "accumulate" and also run quick singles. Like Bevan and Hussey in Aus;Chanderpaul for Windies;Fleming for NZ;Atapattu for India.Leave Dravid because he is already going to be burdened by Captaincy.This is one factor whihc is going to be the key for teams aspiring to win the World Cup.

Well i am from Cuttack and since we get a match only once in 4 or 5 years ,the OCA rents out the ground to marraige receptions, exhibition football matches and functions...so u can all imagine why the pitch is behaving in this manner...of course its been subjected to a lot of functions and football kicks

Well seeing the present situation i wonder if they can cross 150+. Its high time BCCI should set the matters right in every aspect. From player selection to staging match. I think indian cricket is heading for an dead end. Its the people who suffer in end as they will not get to see what they have paid for. Jaago BCCI. If im not wrong the situation is same like the one which was at Kanpur long back when india played srilanka and the bounce on the pitch was uneven and one of the player got hurt.

lets not forget that this is a game.At the end of the day our players are normal human beings trying to do what/how they know.They go out to win .If they lose we should remember that its a game where only one team can win.

Well , I think first of all Chappel must be removed bcoz of his foolish expirimentation. I wonder when he is going to finalize the " team " , may be after W.Cup. Dravid is a good player but defenitly not a good captain. I think Ganguly must be the captain for the W.cup because he is BOLD , AGGRESSIVE , and Ofcourse he CAN resist the " chappellomania ".

india has the talent no doubt. but i guess it lacks good facilities and good coaches at ground levels. bcci has enough money and they should think of investing now. maybe send coaches overseas for training before they train our youngsters at state and junior levels.