All-rounders from India and West Indies who can save the match for their team on Friday
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India's juggernaut in the 2015 World Cup keeps rolling on. Their next opposition are the men from the Caribbean, who they take on at the WACA on Friday.
The West Indies are coming into the game following a drubbing at the hands of South Africa, and will be looking to get back to winning ways. However, they won’t find that easy against an in-form India, who have looked a completely rejuvenated side ever since the start of the competition.
Here's a look at 6 all-rounders from both teams who could play an important role in determining the result on Friday:
1. Chris Gayle
The Jamaican left-hander didn't have the greatest of starts to his 2015 World Cup campaign, scoring 36 runs in the first game against Ireland followed by 4 in the next match versus Pakistan. He was criticised severely by former players for not delivering with the bat on a more consistent basis.
However, the 35-year-old responded to those comments in spectacular fashion by scoring a 147-ball 215 versus Zimbabwe at the Manuka Oval in Canberra last Tuesday. The knock contained 10 fours and 16 sixes, and it was the first double ton scored in a World Cup game.
Gayle has also been useful with the ball in the ongoing tournament, having taken five wickets in four matches so far. After failing to put up a significant score with the bat against South Africa on Friday, he will looking to get back to his run-making ways when his side takes on India at Perth.
2. Suresh Raina
The left-hander opened his World Cup campaign on a high, scoring a crucial 74 off 56 balls in the high octane encounter against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval. He also contributed in the field during Pakistan's run-chase by taking two catches in the slips to get rid of Haris Sohail and Sohaib Maqsood.
Raina didn't play as significant a role with the bat in the next two matches versus South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, but once again showed off his catching ability, taking a total of four catches in those two games combined.
He will be hoping to spend a long time at the crease on Friday, in order to keep his good form intact ahead of the knockout matches.
3. Andre Russell
All-rounder Andre Russell has had a brilliant start to the 2015 World Cup. The 26-year-old has looked in good touch, especially with the bat, playing a string of useful innings lower down the order.
His most critical contribution so far came against Pakistan at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, where he played a destructive cameo of 42 not out in just 13 balls to propel his side to a score of 310 for 6 in 50 overs.
Russell hasn't produced anything special with the ball so far in the tournament, and will be hoping to get his side's campaign back on track by delivering an all-round performance on Friday.
4. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja has had a quiet start to his maiden World Cup with both bat and ball. The 26-year-old hasn't been able to play the quickfire cameos that his side would have wanted him to play, and he will be looking to get amongst the runs on Friday.
Jadeja hasn’t been in great form with the ball either, having picked up just four wickets in the three matches so far as compared to R Ashwin's eight. He will be desperate to impart a much bigger impact when he steps onto the field in the upcoming games.
5. Darren Sammy
Former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has had a fairly good start to his second World Cup campaign. The 30-year-old smashed a 67-ball 89 versus Ireland at the Saxton Oval in Nelson that helped his team post a total of 304 for 7 in 50 overs. He followed that innings with another cameo against Pakistan, scoring 30 off 28 balls with three fours and one six.
But like several of his other teammates, he too couldn't get going during his side's heavy loss against South Africa, getting out stumped for five off the bowling of Imran Tahir.
Sammy must also probably be disappointed to have not made more useful contributions with the ball in hand, having taken just one wicket in the four matches that he has played so far. He will look to contribute more significantly to his team's cause in the remaining games of the group stage.
6. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin has been a revelation at the World Cup so far. The right arm off-spinner has focussed on giving the ball air and looked to pick up his wickets with his off-breaks rather than his carrom ball. That move has paid rich dividends for him as he has picked up eight scalps in three matches, including a four-wicket haul versus the UAE.
Ashwin would, however, be looking to start scoring a few runs for his side too, and thereby further enhance his reputation as the prime all-rounder within the side.