(Cricket news) India will be looking to bounce back after their disappointing performance in the World Test Championship final against Australia. The men in blue will take on West Indies who themselves are going through a terrible patch after failing to qualify for the One Day International World Cup. India have won each of their last 8 Test series against the West Indies and they will once again be heavy favorites. The two-match Test series is India’s first in the 2023/25 World Test Championship final cycle. India have played both finals so far and they will be desperate to make it three in a row.
India’s possible playing XI:
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, KS Bharat, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj
Bench: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini
Yashasvi Jaiswal despite being an opener for his domestic team Mumbai may be asked to bat at three. Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma have been opening together for a while so they might continue to do so even though Gill can bat in the middle order. Shardul Thakur’s batting may not be needed in this case but his bowling should be enough to keep him in the team ahead of Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar. Ravichandran Ashwin is also likely to come back into the playing XI.
West Indies possible playing XI:
Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymond Riefer, Jermaine Blackwood, Kirk McKenzie, Joshua de Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Rahkeem Cornwall
Bench: Alick Athanaze, Shannon Gabriel, Raymon Reifer
Rahkeem Cornwall is back in the squad after two years and he is likely to come into the playing XI straight away. A lot of responsibility will be on the openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul who have been the more consistent ones amongst batters. After a disappointing World Cup qualifier campaign Jason Holder has a point to prove in this series. He along with Alzarri Joseph will be looking to make the new ball talk.
Also read: England keep the Ashes alive with a thrilling 3-wicket win
