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Having missed the chance to get it in the first two Tests, he will be keen to finally achieve the remarkable milestone on his home turf. The batting maestro has been waiting since March 12, when he got his 99th international hundred in the World Cup league tie against South Africa at Nagpur, to reach the milestone.
If the West Indies want to clinch the final inconsequential Test and give themselves a big morale boost ahead of the five-match one-day rubber that follows, they need to get their act together in all departments of the game.
A glimpse of what the visiting team`s batsmen are capable of if they apply themselves and play with determination was there to be seen in the second innings of the second Test in Kolkata when they nearly saved the innings defeat after yet another poor batting display in the first innings.
The way their exciting talent Darren Bravo, who made a stylish 136 and Marlon Samuels (84) batted against the rampaging Indian spin duo of Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin has given them a confidence boost for the final match of the rubber. With opener Adrian Barath and no. 3 Kirk Edwards also notching individual half centuries, the visitors would be looking forward to a similar batting display here.
They have an injury worry ahead of the match with the ever-dependent Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who suffered a calf muscle strain, taking a break from the practice session on Sunday, but he`s expected to take his place in the playing line-up. Chanderpaul is a key batsman with his ability to play very late on Indian pitches and his record against the hosts is tremendous over 2000 runs at over 65 per innings with seven centuries to boot from 23 encounters.
The 37-year-old Guyanese is crucial to West Indies hopes of notching up a consolation victory in the rubber in which they are 0-2 down after losing to India at Delhi and Kolkata. He has scored a century (118) and two 47s in the four innings so far.
Pacer Ravi Rampaul, who missed the second Test after appearing in the opener because of a stomach upset, has recovered fully and is available for selection. There`s a question mark about the West Indies bowling attack which has largely struggled to dismiss the formidable Indian batting line-up though pitch curator Sudhir Naik has promised a "sporting wicket".
"It is a sporting track. There is some grass on it. On the first three days it will assist the seamers and will help the spinners on the fourth and fifth day. Even the West Indies bowlers would love bowling here," said the former India opener yesterday.
"There will be some nip in the morning and the breeze is also likely to help bowlers in the post-tea session," added Naik who had prepared the much-praised wicket for the World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka on April 2. The hosts, on the other hand, are sitting pretty though they would be wary of becoming complacent and pay the price of the dead rubber syndrome.
The other rookie in the bowling attack, speedster Umesh Yadav, has also impressed and, in fact, bagged more wickets (9) than his senior partner Ishant Sharma, who has been, at times, wayward. Both would be performing with an eye on the team selection for the forthcoming tour to Australia.
The organisers, Mumbai Cricket Association, have decided to throw open part of the North Stand free for 2,000 school children to watch the game and cheer the players. The response from the paying spectators is, however, lukewarm though the cheap East Stand tickets are expected to be booked.
