- Nasima Akter
Ishan Kishan Pranks Shubman Gill
After a well-deserved month-long break, the Indian cricket team is ready to hit the ground running once again as they gear up to face West Indies in the first Test of a two-match away series. This series holds significant importance for both teams. West Indies, who suffered a shocking elimination from the ODI World Cup Qualifiers, will be determined to prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with in international cricket. On the other hand, the Indian team faces its own set of challenges.
One of the key talking points leading up to this series has been the much-debated exit of Cheteshwar Pujara. His departure has created a vacancy in the Indian top-order, and all eyes will be on the immensely talented Mumbai left-hander who has shown great promise at the first-class level. This will be a crucial opportunity for him to prove his mettle on the international stage.
While the real action is set to begin on Wednesday, the Indian team displayed a light-hearted and jovial atmosphere during the official photo session. Youngsters like Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill were seen enjoying themselves and bringing a sense of energy to the squad. Ishan Kishan was feeling playful and pulled a little prank on Shubman Gill.
The Indian batting lineup will face a stern test against the formidable West Indies bowling attack, which boasts seasoned bowlers such as Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, and Jason Holder. For the young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, this series will serve as a baptism by fire before he faces the challenges of playing against South Africa and Australia in the near future.
The upcoming World Test Championship cycle presents a tougher assignment for the Indian team compared to the previous two editions, where they reached back-to-back finals with a formidable pace bowling unit. However, with the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah, who may struggle to play Test matches regularly, and the rested Mohammed Shami, the Indian bowling attack will undoubtedly lack the same level of potency that has made them a dominant force in recent times.
Of the other two members of the famed Indian pace quartet, Ishant Sharma will be making his debut as a commentator in this series, while the 36-year-old Umesh Yadav may find it challenging to make a comeback after recovering from a hamstring injury. Consequently, the burden of leading the Indian bowling attack will rest on the young shoulders of Mohammed Siraj, who has only played 19 Test matches, and Shardul Thakur, who has nine long-form games under his belt. In comparison, the West Indies pace attack appears to have a greater depth of experience.
However, the outcome of the series may hinge on how the West Indies batsmen fare against the guile and artistry of Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 474 Test wickets to his name, and Ravindra Jadeja, who has taken 268 scalps. These two spin maestros have nearly 750 Test wickets combined and will pose a significant challenge to the West Indies batting lineup.
While selecting the bowling lineup for India, the choice of four bowlers is automatic. However, deciding among the likes of Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, and Navdeep Saini for the fifth spot might not be an easy task. The team management will have to carefully assess the conditions, the opposition's strengths and weaknesses, and the balance of the side before making a final decision.
As the excitement builds up for the much-anticipated Test series between India and West Indies, cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the battle between bat and ball, hoping for enthralling displays of skill and sportsmanship. Both teams have their own set of challenges and strengths, making it a captivating contest that will showcase the beauty of Test cricket.
