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Windies tour of India 2018/19: First Test – Lesser experienced India hopes to maintain top-ranked performance against growing Windies
By Sandy - Oct 4, 2018 1:21 am
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The two-match Test series between the hosts India and the visitors Windies will begin on Thursday (October 4) at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium (Rajkot).

Windies captain Jason Holder (at left) and Indian captain Virat Kohli (at right)

Indian skipper Virat Kohli is returning to the national side where the selectors have given some rest to the regular players and given some chances to the newcomers. While the young wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and the middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari have retained their places, who made their respective Test debuts in the recent England tour; Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur have earned an opportunity to show their Test qualities for the first time.

Indian cricket team

Though India is still the favourite team in this home Test series, some players haven’t sufficient experiences in the Test cricket as well as in the international cricket. So, it will be not an easy challenge for the home side, but the no.1 Test ranked team is desperate to perform upto their level and don’t allow any shocking moments.

Also read: Cheteshwar Pujara Wasn’t Allowed To Celebrate Festivals

Meanwhile, the Windies team is slowly growing up in the Test cricket level. While they are still far away from the serious challenging level, especially as the visiting team, the growing experiences are making their players better that is shaping a positive attitude inside the team.

Windies cricket team

The present no.8 Test ranked team Windies hasn’t won a Test match on the Indian soil since 1994. Moreover, since 2002, the Caribbean team hasn’t won any Test match against India. So, they are desperate to change their long disappointed fate.

Also read: Jason Holder Feels Test Cricket Is The Pinnacle Of The Game

Though the experienced pacer Kemar Roach will miss the first Test at Rajkot due to returning to his home after his grandmother’s demise, Windies camp is confident with their other pacers.

Also read: Evin Lewis rejects the 2018/19 central contracts

It is the second time when the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium (Rajkot) is going to organise a Test match. The first Test was played here in November 2016 between India and England that resulted in a draw.

Full squads

India: Virat Kohli (capt), KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur

Windies: Jason Holder (captain), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Sherman Lewis, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican