After a month-long break, the Indian cricket team is gearing up to face off against West Indies in the first Test of their two-match away series. While the hosts are eager to prove their relevance in world cricket after their shocking elimination from the ODI World Cup Qualifiers, the Indian team faces their own challenges.
One of these challenges is the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara, which creates a vacancy in the Indian top-order. Ishan Kishan, a talented left-hander from Mumbai, will be looking to step up and fulfill the expectations placed upon him. Despite his relative inexperience at the international level, Kishan has shown great promise in first-class cricket.
Before the serious action begins on Wednesday, the Indian team was seen in a light-hearted mood during the official photo session. Youngsters Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill were particularly enjoying themselves, adding a jovial touch to the proceedings.
Facing a formidable bowling attack consisting of Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, and Jason Holder, the upcoming series will be a challenging test for the Indian team. For young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, this will be a baptism by fire before facing South Africa and Australia in the future.
This new World Test Championship cycle will be a tougher assignment compared to the previous two editions, as the Indian team no longer boasts a top-notch pace bowling unit. With the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah and the rested Mohammed Shami, the Indian attack could lack the same level of dominance.
Two other members of the famed Indian quartet, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, will both face their own challenges. Sharma will be making his commentary debut during this test series, while Yadav, at 36 years old, may struggle to regain his place in the team after recovering from a hamstring injury.
As a result, the Indian attack, led by 19-Test old Mohammed Siraj and supported by Shardul Thakur, appears relatively inexperienced compared to the West Indies’ pace attack.
Overall, the upcoming series against West Indies presents a significant challenge for the Indian team. They must adapt to the absence of key players and face a formidable bowling attack. However, with talented youngsters like Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill in their ranks, the Indian team remains optimistic about their chances.
