West Indies vs India 1st Test Predicted XI: Toss-up between Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal for No.3 spot

By India Today Sports Desk: India and West Indies are all set to face one another within the opening sport of the three-match Test sequence, beginning Wednesday, July 12 on the Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica.

The main query going into the match is who between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at No.3 for the visiting workforce. Cheteshwar Pujara isn’t part of the Indian squad after he didn’t carry out within the World Test Championship remaining towards India.

Going by information in first-class cricket, Jaiswal ought to get the nod forward of Gaikwad for the No.3 place. Gaikwad’s numbers in pink and pink ball cricket aren’t nearly as good as that of the left-handed Jaiswal.

Ravi Ashwin also needs to return to the Indian enjoying XI after lacking the sport towards Australia. Ashwin averages within the 50s with the bat towards the Caribbean workforce and has picked up 60 wickets from 11 matches.

Ravindra Jadeja ought to be the second spin-bowling choice together with Ashwin. In that case, Axar Patel might not get an opportunity to play.

For the West Indies, Rahkeem Cornwall made a comeback into the squad and it stays to be seen if he breaks into the enjoying XI.

Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph returned early from the World Cup Qualifiers to handle their workload. They will play key roles for the hosts within the sequence. Kemar Roach and Kraigg Brathwaite have truckloads of expertise below their belt.

The focus may even be on younger left-handed batter Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who’s trying to come out of the shadow of his father, Shivnarine.

Predicted XIs

India

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal/Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (WK), Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat

West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva (WK), Jermaine Blackwood, Raymon Reifer, Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Jomel Warrican