After the setback at Chennai, India are keen to field their best combination and wrap the one-day international series against the West Indies in Vadodara on Wednesday.

The three-wicket defeat in the third ODI reduced India's advantage in the series to 2-1, but they hope to regain the winning momentum at a venue that has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for them.

India won four out of five matches played at Vadodara, but, significantly, the only loss they suffered was against the men from the Caribbean, in 2002-03, in a tall-scoring contest which the West Indies successfully chased 290.

This will be the seventh encounter at the ground, which also hosted the 1996 World Cup clash between New Zealand and the Netherlands.

India are expected to field a left-right opening pair -- of Sourav Ganguly, who was rested at Chennai, and Robin Uthappa, whose blazing innings of 70 off 41 balls was wasted by the middle and lower order batsmen.

Another attention-grabbing knock is expected to get the 20-year-old Bangalore batsman into the Indian 15 for the World Cup, though there are indications that he has already made the grade after his pyrotechnics at Chennai.

The return of Dhoni will also strengthen the middle order. The Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman has a penchant for big hits and can cart around the older ball on a pitch expected to be benign and true.

Skipper Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar shored up the middle overs with half-centuries at Chennai, but both would have liked to accelerate a bit more. They will be keen to do so at this venue, where the bounce is unlikely to be as high as at the Chidambaram stadium.

There was a steady drizzle on Monday, and some cloud cover has been predicted by weather pundits for Wednesday following today's forecast of unseasonal showers. If that happens, the new ball bowlers can get some swing going their way.

The performance of Irfan Pathan, sent back from South Africa before the end of the tour to rediscover his wicket-taking touch, would be eagerly watched by selectors. The Baroda left-arm pacer was included in the side the moment he showed signs of returning to form in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Mumbai last week.

Pathan's presence also adds depth to the batting. His inclusion would leave S Sreesanth, so impressive in the Tests in South Africa, out of the playing squad, with Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan expected to complete the hosts' pace attack.

The Indian think-tank would also be eager to see Anil Kumble strike form after an expensive spell in Chennai. Harbhajan Singh, who sat out the third ODI, would also be keenly watched.

For the West Indies, the return of in-form batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul would be a huge plus after he was rested in the third ODI; but they would be equally anxious to see their flamboyant opener Chris Gayle rediscover his batting touch at a venue where he pulverised the Indian bowling along with Wavell Hinds in an opening century stand four seasons ago.

Chanderpaul's ability to play late, like his imperious captain Brian Lara, has helped him combat whatever the Indians have confronted him with; the home team will be looking to get him out cheaply.

The West Indies will also be hoping that Marlon Samuels maintains the form he showed in scoring a fine 98 in Chennai. He has the ability to clout the older ball and finish a match, a trait he showed at Vijayawada in the last bilateral series in India, which the visitors won 4-3.

Dwayne Bravo, after having been reprimanded and fined by match referee Alan Hurst for excessive appealing and prematurely celebrating the dismissal of Dinesh Kaartick, needs to be careful in not being over-enthusiastic to avoid a harsher penalty.

The squads:

India: Rahul Dravid (capt), Sourav Ganguly, Robin Uthappa, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Kartik, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, S Sreeshanth.

West Indies: Brian Lara (capt), Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ronoko Morton, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Dinesh Ramdin (wk), Lendl Simmons, Ian Bradshaw, Rayad Emrit, Darren Powell, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

Umpires: Billy Bowden and Amish Saheba

Third umpire: Suresh Shastri

Match referee: Alan Hurst.

Hours of play (IST): 0900 to 1230; 1315 till close.