India are looking forward to beginning the proceedings of the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle against West Indies in a two-Test series starting on July 12. Freshly selected opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to make his debut against the humiliated hosts, as the Caribbeans are looking for salvation after their shock elimination from the ODI World Cup Qualifiers. The oust also means West Indies will not feature in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. However, India have their own share of problems and are looking to address them with a relatively newer team.
Veteran Cheteshwar Pujara’s snubbing has created a vacuum in the Indian batting lineup and supremely gifted Jaiswal, who has earned a call-up for his strong show in the first-class circuit and Indian Premier League, is expected to grab the opportunity with both hands.
Since the 21-year-old batter opens for Mumbai, West Zone and Rest of India, he is likely to open along with captain Rohit Sharma, with Shubman Gill getting slotted at number three.
A fiery pace attack comprising Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph will Test Jaiswal’s mettle before facing South Africa in their own den later this year.
As the back-to-back WTC finalists are going through a transition, they face an uphill task this time. They are without their mainstay pacers Jasprit Bumrah, who’s injured, and Mohammed Shami, who is rested to manage his workload.
Vital cogs of India’s coveted four-pronged pace attack, out-of-favour Ishant Sharma, will take the microphone in the commentary box for the first time in the series while Umesh Yadav at 36 is nursing a hamstring tear, and might find it challenging to make a comeback.
Hence, the pace-battery led by 19-Test-old Mohammad Siraj, backed by Shardul Thakur, who has played 9 Tests, will be tested. It is a no-brainer that India will field a minimum of four fast-bowlers, leading them to make a choice between Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar.
Tweakers Ravichandran Ashwin’s guile and Ravindra Jadeja’s accuracy will hold a vital key to India’s success in the series. The duo shares a total of 742 wickets between them, with Ashwin claiming the majority of its stake with 474 scalps.
Although K.S. Bharat is solid behind the stumps, Ishan Kishan’s inclusion is a tempting prospect for his batting prowess, a close to like-for-like replacement of the injured Rishabh Pant. Bharat who has featured in 5 Tests, hasn’t made a mark with the willow, scoring only 129 runs at a meagre average of 18.42.
The West Indies boast a well-round pace attack, posing a threat to India’s batting fulcrums-Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and comeback man Ajinkya Rahane. Kemar Roach who has played for 15 years, bagging 261 wickets at an average of 27.44, will lead the opening spells with Shannon Gabriel, who has 164 wickets under his belt and only plays Test cricket. The duo will be well supported by all-rounder Jason Holder and fiery pacer Alzarri Joseph.
All eyes are on Virat Kohli, as the star batter has averaged below 30 in red-ball cricket in the last three years along with snubbed Cheteshwar Pujara. He needs the big scores to find his confidence back.
Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane, who is entrusted with the vice-captaincy role in the series following his knocks of 89 and 46 in the recently held WTC final, will look to extend his good form. However, Rahane must be wary of not taking it lightly as players are waiting in the wings to replace him in case of multiple failures.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.
West Indies Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Joshua Da Silva (WK), Alick Athanaze, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican.
Match Starts: July 12, 7:30 pm IST.
