Playing XI:
India: K.L. Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sunil Ambris, Shane Dowrich (wk), Keemo Paul, Devendra Bishoo, Sherman Lewis, Shannon Gabriel.
Toss: India elects to bat
If India is banking on the ‘tinge of green’, West Indies also has the likes of Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder, who could certainly prove effective on a tad bouncy surface. While it is a fact that the side will miss the experience of Kemar Roach, Gabriel and captain Holder will certainly hold the key.
While India is set to go with five bowlers, questions remain whether the Rajkot wicket—which has the history of offering bucketful of runs—will help the bowlers much. But then, as of now, India pins its hopes on its pace trio—Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Shardul. And the spin department is set to be taken care of by the seasoned Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
READ: India hosts WI with Australian tour on mind
The center wicket at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium has a green tinge, much to the delight of the fast bowlers. With the tour of Australia just a month away, the team looks determined to get into the match simulation, but then, with Rajkot simmering at 39 degrees, it needs to be seen how the wicket would eventually behave over the next five days.
Squads:
India : K.L. Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur.
Windies : Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich (wk), Jason Holder (c), Keemo Paul, Sunil Ambris, Shannon Gabriel, Devendra Bishoo, Jahmar Hamilton, Sherman Lewis, Jomel Warrican.
Hello and welcome to Sportstar's live coverage of Day 1 of the first Test between host India and visitor West Indies at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Thursday.
Comments
Follow Us
SHARE