1st Test: 12th July to 16th July 2023 at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica at 7:30 PM IST🏏

India tour of West indies 2023. India makes its long-awaited return to Dominica for a Test match after a twelve-year gap. The primary focus of this series-opener is on the new players who will be instrumental in driving India's World Test Championship campaign.

Having finished as runners-up twice in the competition, the selectors have made some daring choices in selecting the squad.

On the eve of the Test, Captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that there will be a debutant opener and a new No. 3 in the lineup.

Yashasvi Jaiswal will be the chosen opener, fulfilling India's need for a left-hander, while Shubman Gill's move to the middle-order brings a fresh look to the batting order. The performance of these two players in their respective positions will be crucial in addressing India's long-standing batting issues, particularly against pace bowling. Records indicate that the team has struggled against pace in the last three years, with the form of key players like Virat Kohli becoming a concern for the middle-order.

The home side also faces similar batting concerns, evident from their recent struggles against South Africa. This has led them to reconsider their approach. Despite the changes, the batting lineup relies heavily on the experienced duo of Kraigg Brathwaite and Jason Holder. The series provides an opportunity for other players in the team to step up and match the capabilities of their pace attack, which has been the backbone of their success, especially on home turf.

India's transitioning team aims to replicate the potency of their opponents' pace exploits. With Mohammed Shami absent, Mohammed Siraj takes on the role of the lead pacer. However, all attention will be on the emerging talents, who bring a rawness that can level the playing field between the two sides over the course of the two Tests.

Overall, this much-anticipated Test series in Dominica not only showcases India's pursuit of the World Test Championship title but also highlights the batting challenges faced by both teams. With a focus on new players and the quest for an effective pace attack, cricket enthusiasts can expect an exciting contest that may redefine the balance between the two sides.

Team News

India

With Rohit confirming on certain positions in the batting order as well as including a second spinner, the other questions that remain would be over the choice of the wicket-keeper and the seam combination. Jaydev Unadkat's left-arm variation could place him ahead of others, with India's batting depth stretching to run until No. 8.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat/Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini

West Indies

After lacklustre outings against South Africa on their tour there earlier, West Indies have dropped big names such as Roston Chase which could pave the way for debutant Alick Althanaze as a batter while his offspin duties could be transferred to Rahkeem Cornwall, who hasn't featured in a Test in over two years.

Probable XI: Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Althanaze, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel

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