Persistent rain in St Lucia prevented any play on day four of the second Test between West Indies and India.

The tourists will now hope to take the nine wickets they need to claim victory on Wednesday with the Windies on 43-1 - 330 from making India bat again.

The Beausejour Cricket Ground was drenched throughout the day.

Umpires Simon Taufel and Asad Rauf conducted several inspections of the outfield before calling off proceedings around 30 minutes before tea.

The forecast for the final day is not much better but India coach Greg Chappell remains optimistic of taking a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.

"If the rain god was a West Indian today, I hope it is an Indian tomorrow," he said.

"We have no control over the weather but we got them out in 80 overs in the first innings and, hopefully, a full day would enable us to take the remaining wickets."