WI vs IND: Why West Indies will not be pushovers in Tests regardless of failing to qualify for ICC Men’s ODI World Cup

By Rounaq Sehrawat: India is all set to lock horn with the West Indies in a two-match Test collection within the Carribean. The first match of the collection can be performed at Windsor Park in Dominica on July 12.

India’s tour of West Indies: Full Coverage

India go into the Test collection on the again of a World Test Championship Final loss towards Australia final month. As for the Windies, they didn’t qualify for the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup for the primary time of their glittering historical past after faltering on the CWC Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

While India stands out as the clear favorites going into the Test collection, you will need to keep in mind that the West Indies are a formidable unit at residence in the case of the longest format of the sport. While their white-ball kind could also be questionable off-late, the Windies haven’t misplaced a Test collection at residence within the final two years.

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The earlier residence Test collection defeat got here in 2021, once they succumbed to a 1-2 loss towards South Africa. In truth, since 2017, West Indies have misplaced solely three residence Test collection, as soon as towards South Africa in 2021, towards India in 2019, and towards Pakistan in 2017.

In that time period, they’ve hosted Pakistan, England, Bangladesh, India and South Africa in Test collection. They have defeated England twice, first profitable the Wisden Trophy 2-1 in 2018/19, after which the Botham-Richards Trophy 1-0 in 2021/22.

Sri Lanka has been held to a stalemate twice within the Carribean in that interval, first in 2018 after which in 2020/21. West Indies defeated Bangladesh twice, clean-sweeping their opponents first in 2018 after which in 2022. They are additionally unbeaten of their earlier three Test collection at residence.

Their tempo assault of Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel might show to be difficult for India, who’ve struggled towards high quality tempo in abroad circumstances.

Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Rahkeem Cornwall mixed with the expertise of Jason Holder is a strong batting line-up, which might check the Indian bowling unit within the absence of tempo spearheads Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

Historical benefit for India

However, India has loved a profitable run within the Carribean not too long ago. India has not misplaced a Test collection towards West Indies since 2002, popping out at victors on eight events. Interestingly, they haven’t even misplaced a Test match towards the Windies within the final 21 years.

India’s prime batters even have file within the Carribean, with vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane averaging 102.80 in Tests within the West Indies, captain Rohit Sharma averaging 44.23 throughout codecs, and Virat Kohli averaging 46.66 throughout codecs as effectively. In truth, it was within the West Indies that Kohli made his Test debut, again in 2011.

Also Read: West Indies vs India Tests: Most runs

Meanwhile, different senior gamers within the Indian workforce may even be trying to impress, with veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin closing in on the 700-wicket mark for India. Ravindra Jadeja can be trying to break 1983 World Cup profitable captain Kapil Dev’s file, and has picked up 23 wickets and scored 267 runs in 22 matches within the Carribean.

However, the highlight can be on the younger stars breaking into the Indian Test setup. Big issues can be anticipated from the likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, Mukesh Kumar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Siraj on this collection. Jaiswal, Mukesh and Gaikwad have been known as up for the Test aspect for the very first time, and might be making their debuts within the two-match collection.

The first sport of the collection can be performed in Dominica on July 12, with the second scheduled at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain on July 22.