Team India will take on West Indies in a two-match test series to kick off their campaign in the 2023-23 World Test Championship cycle. They lost to Australia in the final of the recently concluded World Test Championship cycle. According to reports, Veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara is likely to be dropped from the team for the West Indies tour.
Following India’s loss in the final, there have been speculations about a complete revamp of the Test squad. With the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in their mid-30s, some demanded that youngsters should get a chance. However, the Indian selectors are unlikely to make wholesale changes for the West Indies tour.
According to Cricbuzz, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane, are likely to retain their places in the squad. “Every Test is important, and its result contributes to the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. We cannot experiment in a Test match,” a source was quoted as saying on the Cricbuzz website.
Meanwhile, the selectors are uncertain about Cheteshwar Pujara’s place in the team. Pujara failed to make an impact in the recently concluded final against Australia. In five matches this year, he averages 25.85, scoring 181, including a fifty. Yashasvi Jaiswal might replace the veteran batter for the West Indies tour.
Mohammed Shami is likely to be rested for West Indies tests
Team India pacer Mohammed Shami has been bowling continuously since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was the leading wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League, playing 17 matches, the most a play can play in a season. He is likely to be rested for the upcoming test series against the West Indies. The pacer might return for the white-ball phase of the tour.
KS Bharat, who was India’s wicket-keeper for the World Test Championship final will retain his place in the Test team. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik are likely to be recalled into the Indian team. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are being considered as the wicket-keeping options for the tour.
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