With Requisite Firepower, India Have Edge over West Indies in Test Series
Post cricket’s most coveted tournament -- the ICC World Cup -- India are off for their tour to West Indies where they will play three T20Is, three ODIs and two test matches. While the T20 series starts from 3 August, the ODI series will commence from 8 August. The test series then starts a couple of weeks later from 22 August. If West Indies have any chance of winning a match or series, the limited overs leg of the tour is their best bet. The only way West Indies presently play their cricket is-attack attack attack! Although that may work in their favour in T20 Cricket which explains the reason why they are the World Champions in that format, it may also work in their favour in the ODI format to an extent but if they only approach Test cricket with their one dimensional strategy, they would find themselves in trouble in this format more often than not.
As far as the Indian squad for the Test Matches are concerned, the MSK Prasad-led selection panel has selected as many as seven batsmen in the team, namely Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari and Rohit Sharma. While all other batsmen pick themselves in the team, it could be a toss-up between Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari yet again in the middle order. For the wicketkeeper spot, Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant are the options available to the captain. However, it is likely that Pant may feature in the Playing XI. In the spin department, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are present in the team but only one or two of them might get to feature in a team at a time and for all his brilliance and ability in coloured jersey, Kuldeep Yadav may have to sit out to make way for the senior spinners in the Playing XI. As far as the fast bowling is concerned, the fast bowling trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah pick themselves in the team while Umesh Yadav may have to wait for his chance.
Saha makes a comeback in the Test team while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been rested from the format. Notably, this will be India’s first series as part of the World Test Championship and so each series win will count towards deciding who will play the final of the World Test Championship. India would look to begin their World Test Championship with a series win and given the firepower in their squad, they can definitely get past the West Indies challenge and start the Championship on a winning note. India’s Test Squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, C Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (WK) Wriddhiman Saha (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav