*INDIA VS WESTINDIES 1st TEST IN A 2 MATCH TEST SERIES 2023 PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD-UP:*
We are all set for another cracker of a test series with India taking on the Windies, in their own den starting from the first test to be held at Dominica.
The Indians were devastated after that 200 odd run loss to Australia in the WTC final but regardless, have a task at hand to start their WTC cycle on the right note- beating WestIndies in their own home something which they were succesful at doing back in 2019 when Bumrah wrecked havoc on these shores. It’s been four years since then and alot has changed. The captains of the sides have changed and so have the bowling lineups, not to mention the attitude with which these teams are playing alongside and the form they are coming from.
The Windies will be looking for a reversal of fortunes, something that was missing in the Qualifiers- losing three in a row and crashing out of the tournament and recording some of the most humiliating losses on their way. They will look to revamp everything in order to set the bar high for the test series to come against India, a side who they haven’t had a good record against lately (formats don’t matter). The whitewash at the hands of Virat and his men last time will also be playing on their mind, as they set out to embark a new journey. This will also be the first time that Sammy gets to work with WI’s best bet in Kraigg Braithwaite.
*WI PROBABLE XI:*
Kraigg Brathwaite(C), Jermaine Blackwood, T Chanderpaul, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Raymon Reifer, J Da Silva(wk), Alzarri Joseph, G Moti-Kanhai, Kemar Roach
Braithwaite at the top of the order has been a class apart and way above the others. He has been churning out the runs for fun and has trusted his defensive process while doing so. What should concern the Windies however is the lack of support with Blackwood being extremely inconsistent, the likes of Chase and Mayers not doing enough justice to the talent they have and Chadrepaul being young as a little animal. What should interest the Caribbean boys is the composure shown by the youngest of the lot, Chanderpaul. He was instrumental and stood up to the Aussie quicks in Australia and managed to survive session after session and also scoring invaluable runs. These two batters will be closely looked at, over the course of these five days. How they fare against Siraj and co will be fascinating to watch.
Alzarri Joseph was WestIndies’s best bowler in the Qualifiers and bowled with some fire inside his belly. He was able to destroy oppositions but just like Braithwaite, lacked support. In Kemar Roach, he has an able partner. These two, with conditions favouring their bowling type and both the actions being different with different angles being created could pose threat to this Indian lineup.
*INDIA PROBABLE XI:*
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj
Rohit confirmed the news of Gill batting at 3 and Jaiswal making his debut and opening alongside the experienced skipper. This in my opinion, is the right call and needs to be backed. Gill has batted in the middle all his life and knows his game better than anyone over there. We have seen his ability to get trapped against the swinging ball upfront so a move to push him down the order should boast well for not just his career but also well for India. The option of Jaiswal opening throws open the LHB-RBH scenario which would pose troubles to WI and the heroics of Jaiswal at the IPL and the last Ranji would keep him in good stead for a debut to remember.
The veteran duo of Rahane and Kohli have not clicked as India would like them to, these last three years and their averages have taken a big hit. What should get Ajinkya going is his impeccable record in this part of the world and his return to form ever since the IPL. Virat, however, is at the edge of the sword- not being able to push for an overseas hundred and struggling to get past a certain level. Being stuck at one point and his detoriating game vs spin hasn’t helped his case either. But given the superstar that he is and his past stellar performances in mind, we could see him back at his best.
Mohammad Siraj has a big responsibility of leading this pace attack. He did so in Australia as well when he was just a rookie but now with a decent number of tests under his belt, this could be his real test. The pacer was key vs Aus in the final too and could be fatal to the cause of WI in the first test. Leading an attack naturally brings out the best in a bowler and Siraj should nail that role to his perfection given the kind of energy and emotion driver person he is.
*MY PREDICTIONS:*
*FOR WI:*
Highest run getter- Kraigg Braithwaite
Highest wicket taker- Alzarri Joseph
*FOR IND:*
Highest run getter- Shubman Gill/Ajinkya Rahane
Highest wicket taker- Mohammad Siraj/Shardul Thakur
*FOR THE GAME:*
India to win