This momentous recreation will mark the one hundredth Test fit between the 2 groups. While India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, said the importance of this instance, his group is predicted to dominate the West Indies, simply as they did within the collection opener in Dominica.
Following the fit on the Queen’s Park Oval, India’s subsequent Test day out will simplest happen all through their excursion of South Africa in December-January. This leaves gamers like Rahane with yet another alternative to make an indelible influence at the selectors, making sure that he can’t be lost sight of for the away collection towards the Proteas.
In his first Test look in 18 months, which coincided with the World Test Championship ultimate final month, Rahane stood out as a outstanding batsman for India. However, he might rue the ignored likelihood on a sluggish, turning pitch in Dominica, the place the guests had to bat simplest as soon as.
There is a robust risk that India will as soon as once more bat simplest as soon as within the upcoming Test, striking emphasis on Rahane’s efficiency. Additionally, Shreyas Iyer, recently present process rehabilitation after a again surgical treatment, is predicted to be to be had for the South Africa excursion.
batting trainer Vikram Rathore emphasised the significance of getting an in-form Rahane for the approaching shuttle to South Africa within the lead-up to this recreation.
“When it comes to technique, you constantly work on that but what stood out to me is that he was much more calm in his approach. He was playing late and close to the body. He is still batting the same way in the nets.
“We hope he’ll do smartly. Conditions in South Africa, you’ll want anyone like him to return just right,” Rathour said ahead of the second Test.
Following an innings and 141-run victory in three days, no major changes are expected in the playing eleven but it remains to be seen if left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat gets another opportunity.
The 31-year-old, who featured in only his third Test in 13 years, was the lone Indian bowler who did not pick a wicket in Dominica and bowled only nine overs.
India spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja made merry on a track offering turn in the series opener and another turner is on the cards with the West Indies replacing batting all-rounder Ramon Reifer with spin all-rounder Kevin Sinclair.
If that is indeed the case, India will be tempted to play another spinner in Axar Patel at Unadkat’s expense.
Shardul Thakur can also be benched to accommodate Axar, whose batting has improved by leaps and bounds in the last 12 months.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who became only the third Indian to score 150 on his debut, will be looking to extend his purple patch. Shubman Gill could only last 11 balls after dropping himself down to number three and he would be itching to go out in the middle.
Virat Kohli, who hasn’t made an overseas Test hundred since December 2018, will also be eyeing a big knock after a dogged 76 in the opener.
After taking 20 balls for his first run in Test cricket, Ishan Kishan would be eagerly waiting for his chance in the middle after impressing the skipper with his keeping skills against Ashwin and Jadeja on his debut.
Barring debutant Alick Athanaze, none of the West Indies batters were comfortable against high quality spin and are likely to struggle if the ball turns as much as it did in Dominica.
West Indies might be better off with a pitch that aids fast bowling, bringing Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph into the game. That could be the only way they are able to put pressure on the Indian batting line up.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva (wicket-keeper), Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Kevin Sinclair, Kemar Roach, To install Jomel Warrican.