Sachin Tendulkar will continue to open while out-of-form captain Saurav Ganguly drops down the order as India ring the changes to resurrect their World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe here on Wednesday.
Ganguly's team need a win to stay in contention for a place in the Super Six, and the desperate situation has forced a reshuffle of the struggling batting order.
Virender Sehwag, who batted at number three in the first two games, will partner Tendulkar at the top with
Dinesh Mongia coming in at number three and Ganguly at four, team officials said on Tuesday.
India, regarded as one of the finest batting outfits in the game, failed to last 50 overs against the Netherlands and were shot out for 125 by Australia.
The Indians beat the Dutch, but the nine-wicket loss to Australia means Ganguly's men must win all their remaining key games against Zimbabwe, England and Pakistan to ensure a place in the Super Six.
Tendulkar, one-day cricket's leading batsman, was given back his opening berth for the World Cup
and responded with top scores of 52 and 36 in the first two games.
But Ganguly has managed just 75 runs in his last nine innings, and coach John Wright was hoping the turnaround in the team's fortunes will come on Wednesday.
"Two months ago this batting order was successful, but since the start of the tour to New Zealand we've had nine one-day performances where we haven't finished the 50 overs," Wright told reporters.
"We've got to put it right if we are to be successful in this competition, and it has to start from this game and be carried through.
"We must beat Zimbabwe.
"We have to regain our belief, our commitment and our determination to get the job done. That is critical to our success."
The rest of the batting order will not be disturbed even though Mohammad Kaif, the hero of India's one-day final victory over England last year, has a best of 31 in his last 15 innings.
India will name their playing eleven just before the toss on Wednesday, the only change being considered is Ajit Agarkar or Ashish Nehra coming in place of one of the spinners if the wicket at the Harare Sports Club favours seam bowling.
India can ill-afford another poor display against Zimbabwe who beat them at the last World Cup when Henry Olonga took three wickets in the final over to fashion a dramatic three-run victory.
Left-hander Andy Flower alone is enough to give the Indians nightmares.
The 34-year-old loves India's bowlers against whom he averages a phenomenal 94.93 in Test
matches and 41.16 in one-day
internationals.
When India last played
Zimbabwe at the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September, Flower hit a superb 145 before Ganguly's team won by 14 runs.
Heath Streak's home team thrashed newcomers Namibia in their first World Cup match before earning four bonus points when England decided to forfeit their game here for security reasons.
Zimbabwe are now well-placed to join Australia in the Super Six from Pool A, leaving India, Pakistan and England to battle for the third spot.
India have won six of the seven World Cup matches against Zimbabwe, but Wednesday's game could change the trend if the Indian batting continues to falter.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's new ball bowler Andy Blignaut will undergo a fitness test later on Tuesday following a long-standing ankle injury.
The wicket sports a tinge of grass which could prompt the captain winning the toss to bowl first. LINE-UPS
ZIMBABWE (from): Heath Streak (captain), Andy Blignaut, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Douglas Hondo, Douglas Marillier, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart.
INDIA (from): Saurav Ganguly
(captain), Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Mongia, Parthiv Patel, Sanjay Bangar, Ajit Agarkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif.
Umpires: Asoka De Silva (Sri) and Rudi Koertzen (Rsa)
TV umpire: Darrell Hair (Aus) Match referee: Clive Lloyd (WIs)