WI must win this already

Defending champions India will look to continue their recent success against Chris Gayle when they clash with the West Indies in the World Cup at the WACA ground in Perth on Friday.

The explosive left-hander has not passed 50 in his last 10 one-day innings against India and not hit a century against them since 2006, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men know that does not guarantee another cheap wicket.

Just last week, Gayle hammered a record World Cup score of 215 off 147 balls against Zimbabwe in Canberra, demolishing the bowling attack like only he or South Africa's AB de Villiers can do.

De Villiers gave Gayle a taste of his own medicine a few days later in Sydney, smashing a glorious unbeaten 162 off 66 balls that drew warm applause even from the awestruck Jamaican.

Dhoni conceded it was tough to have a bowling plan or set fields for batsmen like Gayle and de Villiers.

India can draw comfort from the unpredictable game of the West Indies, where highs and lows mingle so frequently that is leaves even the most passionate Caribbean supporter exasperated.

In their first three matches of the ongoing World Cup, the West Indies posted 304-7 in losing to Ireland, 310-6 against Pakistan and 372-2 versus Zimbabwe in a grand show of their batting prowess.

But they crashed to 151 in their next game trying to chase South Africa's 408-5 with leg-spinner Imran Tahir returning with five wickets.

In contrast, India have played consistently to record three consecutive wins, including a 76-run defeat of old foes Pakistan and a stunning 130-run win over the mighty South Africans.

A nine-wicket hammering of minnows United Arab Emirates at the WACA ground last week provided Dhoni's team a chance to adjust to the hot weather in Perth and the challenges the hard pitch poses.

With six full points in the bag and matches in hand against the West Indies, Ireland and Zimbabwe, India will eye the top spot in Pool B to ensure they don't face either of the co-hosts, Australia and New Zealand, in the quarterfinals.

But the West Indies, who have two wins from four games and both Ireland and Pakistan breathing down their necks, must defeat India and the UAE in their last two matches to confirm a knock-out berth.

The West Indies have brought in attacking batsman Johnson Charles to replace the injured Darren Bravo.

Sammy brushed aside injury worries for Gayle, who missed a few training sessions apparently resting a sore back.

5 Facts

• This will be the eighth World Cup meeting between India and West Indies, with the latter needing to win this game in order for the record to be even between them; India won 4, West Indies won 3
• The two teams have met just once before in Perth with that game ending tied as both teams were bowled out for 126 back in 1991; it is the only game between India and West Indies that has ended as a tie
• Just two Indian players have an average over 50, Virat Kohli (52.17) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (51.41). They are two of just seven players from any nation to play 10+ innings to achieve the feat
• Chris Gayle has hit 17 sixes in this tournament already; he needs to hit two more to overtake Matthew Hayden (18 in 2007) for most sixes in a World Cup
• Gayle has hit 22 one-day international centuries -- only four players from any nation have scored more