India started the match in the best possible way, with a fresh pair of legs. Tinu Yohannan bowled the first over of the match and was on the money right away. His line and length was impeccable, and he bowled with a fire that must have been seething inside him for the last month-and-a-half, a time he spent sightseeing and, presumably, keeping himself going in the nets. He was one tourist who certainly did not stray. His energy and verve was in stark contrast to the jadedness of the Indian bowlers, particularly Javagal Srinath, in the final Test at Jamaica. The gruelling schedule had clearly done for them there, and it is tempting to postulate what might have happened had Srinath been rested for the fourth Test at Antigua to keep him fresh for the decider, and Yohannan been played. That would also have kept Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan on their toes.

The Indians certainly were on their toes in what was effectively the first one-dayer of the series played; their fielding was excellent, and for once, aided the bowlers by denying the batsmen any easy runs. The entire team seemed rejuvenated by the presence of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif in the 30-yard circle. Kaif took a fabulous diving catch to get rid of Brian Lara and Yuvraj hit the stumps twice early on with direct throws. The seniors were no slouches either, as evinced by Sachin Tendulkar's excellent direct-throw run-out of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Rahul Dravid, unfortunately, had an excellent day behind the stumps. Excellent, because he was adequate in collecting and catching – plus the one stumping he made – and inspired in his involvement and his value-added advice to the bowlers; it was unfortunate, because India might now be tempted to continue with him at that position.

Such compromises inevitably prove counter-productive in the long run, and this one is needless. If India can afford to play seven batsmen and still leave out VVS Laxman, they clearly have an abundance of batting talent, and the six best men should be able to deliver. A seventh is not needed. One suspects that Dravid was asked to keep partly because it was the only way to keep him in the team. But it is not in the interests of the team.

The decision to bring Tendulkar down the order to No. 4 was long awaited, and the right one. India have many men – Sehwag, Ganguly, Dinesh Mongia – who can deliver at the top of the order. But what they desperately need to win more matches is a finisher down the order, someone like Michael Bevan. It is the most important job in this top-heavy team, and the best player should be assigned the job. Sachin will make fewer centuries in this role; India will win more matches.

Worryingly though, the Indian camp had announced before the game that Sachin would come down the order only if India chased. That is ludicrous. It indicates, as in the case of Dravid keeping, that India have still not got out of the mode of silly knee-jerk reactions, and do not yet have a well-reasoned long-term strategy in mind. There are only a handful of matches to go for the World Cup, and not much time for India to get their act going.

While it was heartening for India that all their young players did all they were called upon to do today, West Indies will only take a deep sense of despondence – and déjà vu – out of this match. Their last seven wickets fell in the space of 46 runs, and Carl Hooper, like a big-busted lady without a bra, did not get the support he deserved, and the innings sagged. There is a danger that future generations may now not talk of the West Indian Calypso, but of the West Indian Collapse. Not just the repeated capitulation of their tail, but also how far their cricket has fallen in the last 15 years, and from how high.

Amit Varma is assistant editor of Wisden.com in India.

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