KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC)

West Indies will brace for a backlash from a smarting India when the two teams clash in the opening game of the four-match one-day international series at Sabina Park today.

The regional side engineered India's early demise at the just concluded ICC World Twenty20 Championship in England, and will be cognisant of the visitors' need to avenge that loss.

no fluke

West Indies will be brimming with confidence, especially after reaching the semi-finals of the World T20 and will also be anxious to show their impressive campaign in this tournament was no fluke.

The series comes on the back of the West Indies' two-month stint in England and captain Chris Gayle said his side would be looking to make a positive start to the series in order to dictate the pace.

"We're looking forward to this series. It will be a competitive one, an enjoyable one I hope," Gayle said yesterday.

"Like I said, the first game is very important. Hopefully, we can try and get off to a good start and set the tone for the entire series.

"It's always a tough challenge to go up against India. Over the last couple years we have played against each other, it always has been competitive. It will be a good battle, both teams will be looking to go out there and stamp their authority."

Following a wretched away Test and ODI series where they lost heavily to England, West Indies almost salvaged their summer with a fine performance in the World T20s.

They beat Australia to reach the second round where they upset the highly-favoured title holders India before going on to hammer England and qualify for the final four.

different prospect

Despite the success in that tournament, Gayle warned that 50-over cricket was a different prospect.

"All in all it has been good. We came back in from England where we played good over there in the Twenty20s but it's a different format of the game," Gayle said.

"There's a little bit more time to play with during this 50 overs but at the same time, you still have to be aggressive and competitive towards the Indian team."

India will be led by the under-fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni but will miss several experienced players for the series. Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar has opted out of the series along with experienced seamer Zaheer Khan while injury has ruled out Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina.

taking no comfort

Gayle said, however, he was taking no comfort in these missing players as India had more than adequate replacements.

"They have missed quite a few experienced players but they have good backup players there," he noted.

"There's a lot of talent there in India, so there's nothing to walk out there and think it's going to be a walkover. It's going to be tough. They still have quite a few key players there.

The second ODI bowls off Sunday at the same venue with the final two matches scheduled for July 3 and 5 in St Lucia.