World Cup, Durban: India v Kenya, Thursday, 1230 GMT
Shah and Tendulkar
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Openers
India changed their opening combination following the first two group games at the World Cup.
Captain Sourav Ganguly believed his partnership with maestro Sachin Tendulkar was not blossoming like he would have wished and therefore elected to drop himself down the order.
In came Virender Sehwag, and the rest as they say is history.
Although Sehwag has yet to shine, he has supported Tendulkar well.
Tendulkar has scored one century in the tournament so far and come close on two other occasions.
The Kenyan pair of Kennedy Otieno and Ravindu Shah proved their pedigree when they put on 75 runs for the first wicket against India in the Super Sixes.
Otieno made a creditable 79 while Shah is his side's leading run-scorer with 264.
If the pair can come up trumps again, then it will give Kenya the perfect platform to go on and cause a major shock.
Advantage: India
Middle order
This pair-up would have been under some debate had the Indian middle-order continued in the same tepid form as they had done in the first few games of their campaign.
However, after several kicks up the backside both from team management and the press back in India, the players eventually began to show why collectively they are seen by many as the best batting line-up in world cricket.
Should the openers fail, then a fast-improving Rahul Dravid may hold the key to success. The young pair of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif are also beginning to nurture a reputation for themselves.
Although captain and veteran Steve Tikolo is not Kenya's leading scorer, his influence on the pitch may prove vital.
The likes of Thomas Odoyo and Maurice Odumbe showed in the Super Six match against Zimbabwe they have the temperament to steer their team to victory - although India's bowling attack may prove to be too stiff an opposition.
Advantage: India
Tikolo and Ganguly
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All-rounders
A very even contest.
Kenya have a number of players who fall into the 'jack of all trades' category.
Captain Tikolo, Maurice Odumbe and Thomas Odoyo and all very useful with bat and ball.
India captain Ganguly, Sehwag and Yuvraj have chipped in wickets but on most occasions have not been required to help out a bowling attack which has been able to cope with most situations very admirably.
Kenya edge this category because of their star trio's outstanding statistics.
Advantage: Kenya
Wicket-keepers
Of all the pre-tournament mumbles surrounding the India squad, the loudest was that of the non-selection of an established keeper.
India chose two batsmen, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, to fill in the role.
Dravid, who got the nod ahead of his younger counterpart because of previous experience in the role, has shown his nimble ability with the gloves.
Although his form with the bat suffered in earlier group matches, he has grown in confidence.
He has 12 catches to his name, while his Kenya counterpart Kennedy Otieno Obuya has eight.
The opener will be hoping to be fit in time for Thursday's contest after picking up an injury as a result of a vicious delivery from Australia's Brett Lee - brother David Obuya is in line to take over behind the stumps.
Advantage: India
Suji and Nehra
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Fast bowlers
One of the biggest surprises of the World Cup so far has been the brilliant form shown by India's pace attack.
Much of the build-up centred around the side's star-studded batting line-up, but they have been outshone by the likes of Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra.
All three bowlers have enjoyed the spotlight.
Who could forget Nehra's six-wicket haul against England, Khan's four for 42 against New Zealand and veteran Srinath's performance against Sri Lanka.
The medium-fast pace of Kenya's Martin Suji, along with the three aforementioned reliable all-rounders will need to be at the top of their game against India's batting attack.
Advantage: India
Spinners
Kenya's Collins Obuya has the ability to steal the headlines if he performs the way he has been this tournament.
With 13 wickets already to his name, the bowler who took five wickets against Sri Lanka, is the second most prolific spinner in the competition behind Muttiah Muralitharan.
On the other hand India's Harbhajan Singh has found the going difficult at this World Cup.
The Turbanator has nine wickets to his name and has been expensive at times.
But as they saying goes - form is temporary and class is permanent.
Advantage: India
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