WI v IND | India’s Predicted XI for first Test against West Indies
India kick-off their ICC World Test Championship against the West Indies in the first of a two-match series, starting from Thursday in Antigua. Given that skipper Virat Kohli has repeatedly stated the importance of each match, India are unlikely to experiment with their lineup tomorrow.
Openers
KL Rahul: Unless India thinks outside the box and offer a chance up-top to their limited-overs opening slot specialist Rohit Sharma, Rahul’s spot at the top for both Tests looks secure. However, time is running out quickly for Rahul, and he will have to convert his flamboyant starts into big scores if he is to nail down a spot in whites. Indian cricket fans will be keen to see if he can provide the start Virender Sehwag used to, with his fluent style of play.
Mayank Agarwal: Agarwal got his chance in the longest format of the game when Prithvi Shaw got injured ahead of the series in Australia. Say no more, the Bengaluru boy took full advantage of his chances striking two confident 70-plus scores. He then had a strange stint at the World Cup where, even though a replacement for Vijay Shankar, he was never used. Now that he’s back in whites, India will look to him to provide solidity at the top, and that he can shed his habit of throwing his wicket away.
Middle-order
Cheteshwar Pujara: The choice for No.3 (and No.4) is a no-brainer. Pujara is India’s wall, and if anyone who still has a lingering doubt somewhere in the back of their head need only look at his numbers from the series win down under. Legend has it that the Australians are still researching ways to get him out. If the Antigua pitch misbehaves in any way like it did when England visited, they would want their most patient batsman to grind it out.
Virat Kohli: Kohli is in an unspoken battle for the right to be called the greatest modern-day Test batsman, and at the moment, his opposite number Steve Smith is running away with the case. Also, Kohli averages just 36.33 in the Caribbean, his lowest away from home (min. five innings). That should be more than enough motivation for the Indian run-machine to put in his best strides forward every step of the way from tomorrow.
Ajinkya Rahane: Although the team’s vice-captain, perhaps no other player in this lineup is quite as unsure of his place than Rahane. To put it in simple words: he hasn’t scored an international century in two years! However, he has the backing of skipper Kohli and he has stood up with some brave cameo knocks in South Africa, England and Australia. However, Rahane will know that it is high-time he steps up and scores a ‘daddy hundred.’ Hopefully, he can kick-on from the hard-fought fifty in the practice match.
Rishabh Pant: Perhaps the toughest call to make in a two-match series is the wicket-keeper, especially when India doesn’t have a clear-cut choice. Saha may be the better ‘keeper, but Pant is the future – and that’s why he edges it. But Pant has only clicked once in the entire tour thus far, and if he continues to throw away his chances as in the practice match earlier this week, his impressive competitor will replace him. Can Pant get it together? We’ll find out soon.
All-rounders
Ravichandran Ashwin: Whether or not India play with two spinners, Ashwin is a certain pick. Not only is he a reliable bowler, coming in on the back of some fine performance in English county cricket, but he also is a very steady batsman down the order. However, for him personally, Ashwin has a point to prove. He made the claim that he is India’s best spinner twice around the time of the IPL, and now is the time to back the talk.
Ravindra Jadeja: Jadeja’s fine Test record is enough argument for his place in the lineup. That he and Ashwin strike a beautiful balance in the spin department just adds to the case. Jadeja did not find his best form in the first innings of the practice match, but much like Ashwin, he found some good rhythm in the second and trapped the Windies ‘A’ opener in front. Having at least three left-handers to contend with will pose a challenge, but it is one Jadeja will welcome whole-heartedly.
Bowlers
Mohammed Shami: Granted Shami has not had the best of tours, but he will be given the nod ahead of Umesh Yadav simply because of his ability to pick up wickets at will. Quite obviously, Shami will be running in first-change, but he is a bit like Shannon Gabriel on the other side. Gabriel has done really well in Windies conditions in Tests, and Shami will take a few tips off his counterpart to swing things India’s way.
Ishant Sharma: Ishant is no longer that fiery bowler that hit the deck, and got one to zip off the surface while having major issues with consistency. If anything, he’s the complete opposite. Although Bumrah may be talked about a lot more, Ishant is the leader of the pack in Tests, especially with Bhuvneshwar being given a break. He was good in Australia, excellent in England, and now will look to wreak havoc in the Caribbean.
Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah is back! So, yet again, another no-brainer. However, India’s best limited-overs bowler found it hard in the first innings of the practice match. And just like we’ve come to admire his willingness to correct himself and come back in double-quick time, Bumrah returned in the second innings of the same match and sent the first-innings top-scorer packing. After getting a full rest from the T20Is and ODIs, Bumrah will be raring to go at full throttle from tomorrow.