PORT SPAIN: Overnight rain delayed the toss for the fourth and final Test between the West Indies and India at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on Thursday.

Despite bright morning sunshine, the umpires expressed concern over some damp areas around the pitch square and decided to delay the toss for half an hour, pending a second inspection of the field.

India, who have a 2-0 lead in the series going into the final match, need to beat the hosts to maintain number one spot in the ICC Test Rankings.

If they fail to do so, they will be replaced by their neighbours, Pakistan, at the top spot.

West Indies bat first

Jason Holder won the toss and chose to bat first.

Having already lost the series and facing the prospect of a 3-0 defeat, the home side have recalled specialist leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo at the expense of fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who made his debut in the third Test in St Lucia.

Opening batsman Murali Vijay, ruled out of the last two matches with a thumb injury, returns to the team in place of Shikhar Dhawan.

For the first time in the series, the tourists have opted for only four specialist bowlers, omitting left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in preference for middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara.