After wrapping up 1st Test in three days, Team India have reached Port of Spain for IND vs WI 2nd Test. India Cricket Team will have their first practice session at Queen’s Park Oval on Tuesday with the final Test starting on July 20. Rohit Sharma & Co had a two-day break from practice after easily wrapping up the 1st Test in Dominica. Now, the aim will be to extend 21 years of dominance.
India vs West Indies Test series may have lost significance over the last two decades. But with Team India undergoing a transition, the two Tests hold immense importance. If India seal the series 2-0, they will extend their run at the top of ICC Rankings.
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Why is IND vs WI 2nd Test important?
While no one expects West Indies to pull off an upset, the match has its own significance.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has already made a mark and another big score can make it difficult for the selectors to drop him from the India Tour of South Africa squad. However, Shubman Gill, having relinquished the opening spot, has a bigger task.
In Cheteshwar Pujara’s absence, he did not get a great start. However, as Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul return and if Pujara scores tons of runs big score, it could put a question mark on Gill’s No 3 slot. Hence, has to do well at one shot.
While Virat Kohli is unmoveable, it is not the case with Ajinkya Rahane. Even though he is the designated vice-captain and No 5 batter in the current team, he needs to back his claims with runs, especially with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul set to come back for the next Test tour.
Similarly, before Rishabh Pant makes a comeback, Ishan Kishan has got a rare opportunity to show his mettle in the Whites. He did not get a long time to play but he also has to make his opportunity count.
Jaydev Unadkat and Mukesh Kumar are another two pacers who will be wary of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami’s comeback. They also must make their chances count before the South Africa tour.
IND vs WI Port of Spain Pitch & Weather
However, bad weather can play spoilsport to India’s practice session in Port of Spain. With intermittent rain predicted, it can hamper India’s preparations.
Queen’s Park Oval Pitch: It remains a mystery. With not any international games, especially Tests, it is difficult to predict how the conditions will be. India head coach Rahul Dravid will take a look at the pitch before deciding his combinations.
India Test squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.
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