After finishing as runners-up in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023, Team India is set to make their return to the field in the upcoming tour against West Indies. The tour will consist of two Test matches, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and five T20 Internationals (T20Is).
Following their defeat in the summit clash against Australia, the Test squad has not undergone major changes. However, a couple of young players have received their maiden call-ups.
Despite criticism, Rohit Sharma has been retained as the captain of the Test side, aiming to regain his form and confidence after a modest performance in the WTC final. Youngster Shubman Gill ended up putting just 31 runs into India’s account in both innings. However, he is expected to put up a good show in the upcoming Test series in the Caribbean and provide a solid start to the side along with skipper Rohit.
Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the squad, making way for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is expected to make his debut. Jaiswal showcased excellent form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 and will be eager to replicate that performance in the upcoming Test matches.
Virat Kohli, India’s former captain, had a successful IPL 2023 campaign but couldn’t make a significant impact in the WTC final. However, Kohli has been a reliable performer in challenging situations and is expected to contribute significantly with the bat.
Ajinkya Rahane, who emerged as the highest run-scorer in the WTC final against Australia, has made a comeback to the Test squad after a year and a half. He displayed courage by scoring 89 and 46 runs in the first and second innings, respectively. He has also reclaimed the vice-captaincy and aims to justify his selection through his experience and performance.
Ishan Kishan is anticipated to make his debut in the series, as he was part of the WTC final squad alongside KS Bharat. Kishan’s inclusion is likely due to Bharat’s underwhelming batting performance in the final. With Rishabh Pant still recovering, this presents a great opportunity for Kishan to shine with his aggressive style of play.
Ravindra Jadeja, the dependable all-rounder, will be crucial for India’s success against West Indies. Jadeja made a remarkable comeback in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23, where he picked up 22 wickets in four Tests, but couldn’t meet expectations in the WTC final. The team will have high hopes for him to bounce back and display his all-round skills.
Ravichandran Ashwin, one of the world’s best bowlers, recently regained his number one spot in the bowler’s Test rankings. He was benched for the WTC final, and India paid a heavy price for his absence. Ashwin will be eager to make an impact in the upcoming series against West Indies.
With Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav unavailable, Mohammed Siraj will lead India’s pace bowling attack alongside Shardul Thakur and the potential debutant Mukesh Kumar.
Overall, the Indian team will be looking to perform well and secure a series victory against West Indies as they begin their campaign in the 2023-25 WTC cycle.
The first Test match of the series will take place in Windsor Park, Dominica from July 12 to July 16. Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad will host the second Test from July 20 to July 24.
India’s probable XI for the first Test against West Indies: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammad Siraj.
India’s squad for the two-match Test series : Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Rituraj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Akshar Patel, Mohammad Siraj , Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.
