India vs West Indies | Ian Bishop believes Virat Kohli-led Indian team is a threat for Windies

08/01/2019

Former West Indies bowler and commentator Ian Bishop feels India’s overseas performance in Test Cricket has evolved ever since Virat Kohli took up the leadership role. Due to this form, the West Indies veteran believes India will have an edge over the Windies in the upcoming Test series.

India have not only been a powerhouse in sub-continent conditions but have also have emerged as a better Test team in overseas in recent years. Despite what the 1-4 defeat to England last year might suggest, India did put up a good fight against the home team. Moreover, following that they recorded India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018. Due to this versatile record, they are the number one-ranked Test team.

According to TOI’s report, Bishop told the IANS, "India know their home conditions so well. India have become the powerhouse that has played better overseas in recent years. They were very competitive in England last summer, defeated Australia in Australia last year for the first time. No doubt Australia were without their two key players but that just says India were traveling better."

Bishop further stated that in order to contain India’s dominance, the Windies batsmen especially Roston Chase and Shai Hope will have to have a big match temperament against the bowling attack which will consists of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma. Hope and Chase have both played 29 Test matches and have established themselves in the team’s forefront.

"West Indies will hope that Roston Chase, who is integral as a batsman to their course, and Shai Hope and all these guys put their foot down and say 'ok, the pitches at home have been challenging to bat on for everyone, but we have played two seasons now on this. So, we need to start and set down marks on scoring hundreds'," Bishop said.

India and West Indies will play three T20Is starting on August 3, followed by three ODIs and finally the Test series, that starts on August 22.