Team India will be heading to West Indies for a four-Test series starting from July 21 to August 22. It will be led by Virat Kohli and it will be his second overseas series. He had won the series in Sri Lanka.
It will be a test for the newly appointed coach Anil Kumble. On the day of his appointment, Kumble said he will be looking forward to working with Kohli and M.S. Dhoni. Kumble also stated that he would be looking to better the overseas record of India.
The Indian squad, besides Kohli, comprises Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, K.L. Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur and Stuart Binny.
India and West Indies had their first Tests clash in 1948. They have met on 90 occasions, with West Indies winning 30 to India's 16 and the rest being drawn.
A look at India's performance in West Indies.
West Indies' Gary Sobers (right) congratulates India's Abid Ali (left) and Sunil Gavaskar after their victory in the second cricket Test match at Port of Spain, Trinidad on March 11, 1971. Photo: The Hindu Archives India earned their first series victory in West Indies in 1970-71. The team was led by Ajit Wadekar. The series saw some scintillating batting from a debutant Sunil Manohar Gavaskar, who went on to become the first player to complete 10000 runs in Tests.
Previously, in 1952-53, India was beaten 1-0, and in 1961-62 they were blanked 5-0.
In the 1975-76 series, India embarked on a four-Test series under the captainship of B.S. Bedi. Despite winning the third Test, West Indies outsmarted India in the final one and won the series 2-1. Everyone will remember the third Test in which India chased a target of 403 to win the Test. Riding on centuries from Gavaskar and Viswanath, India outplayed the West Indies' attack and won the match by 6 wickets. The record chase remained in tact till 2003 when West Indies chased Australia's target of 418. The Indian run-chase now remains the third best.
Kapil Dev led India to West Indies in 1982-83, but lost the five-match series 2-0. In 1988-89, Dilip Vengsarkar led Team India to West Indies but were thrashed 3-0 in a four-Test series.
The Sachin Tendulkar-led side toured West Indies in 1996-97 but were once again defeated 1-0 in the series. During that series, India was on verge of victory. Chasing a meagre target of 119, India was bundled out for 81 with Ian Bishop, Curtly Ambrose and Rose ripping through the Indian top and middle order. West Indies won the match by 38 runs. VVS Laxman was the only batsman to reach double-figures.
In 2002, Saurav Ganguly led an energetic Indian side to the Carribbeans. India once again lost the series 2-1.
The second time India won a series in West Indies was in 2006. India won the four-Test series 1-0. The team was led by Rahul Dravid.
Indian players applaud as team captain Rahul Dravid goes to receive his man-of-the-series award during an award ceremony after the fourth and final test cricket match against the West Indies in Kingston on July 2, 2006. India beat West Indies by 49 runs to clinch the four test cricket match series 1-0. Photo: Reuters Dhoni repeated the feat in 2011 when he won a three-Test series in the Carribbean nation.
Captain M.S. Dhoni (right) Rahul Dravid, center, and Ishant Sharma celebrate after beating the West Indies by 63 runs on the fourth day of their first cricket Test match in Kingston, Jamaica, on June 23, 2011. Photo: AP Now, the Kohli team might be able to pull off a victory and make it a hat-trick series victories for India in West Indies. West Indies are going through a rough patch. The team do not have any match-winners like they had in 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
The current Indian team has the right balance both in batting and bowling to outwit West Indies on their own soil. Vijay, at the top of the order, is in form. The only concern for Kohli will be the other opener. Dhawan who has not been in good form might open the innings with Vijay. If Kohli's feels the other way, Rahul, who made a scintillating century against the Australians might open with Vijay.
The middle order is very strong with Pujara, Rahane, Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Pujara, Rahane and Rohit Sharma can all contribute to the middle order. But the other concern for Kohli is the indifferent form of Sharma in the longest form of the game, though he has scored enormous runs in the shortest forms. Pujara and Rahane can stay longer at the crease and score big runs.
In the case of Kohli, he is in sublime form of his career with tremendous scores in the recently concluded series against Australia, World T20 Championship and IPL. If he continues his form, then West Indies will be having trouble in stopping him scoring big scores.
This will be the second series for wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha. After the sudden retirement of M.S.Dhoni, it will be tough for Saha to fill the vacuum. Despite various options for the selectors, they have retained Saha for this all-important tour as his batting is an added advantage for Virat Kohli. He is also a decent wicket-keeper.
If Kohli opts for five bowler option, he can rest Saha and opt for K.L. Rahul to keep the wickets. Though Rahul has kept wickets in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he might not be risked for a Test series.
On the bowling front, Kohli has various options in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ashwin, Jadeja and Mishra. With the pitch conditions in mind, he can opt for three fast bowlers and two spinners.
Kohli's six batsmen and five bowlers option has borne fruit during the Sri Lankan series. But this would be a different ball game in West Indies. He and Kumble will have put up the right combination.
Team India also has two all-rounders in Jadeja and Binny. If Kohli opts for an extra batsman, he has the luxury of doing so. Though Jadeja has shown his skills in the bowling department, he has to rise to the occasion in batting while it is vice versa for Binny.
The selectors have given Thakur an opportunity to make his debut. If anyone of the fast bowlers miss out, he can be opted as he has done reasonably well in the domestic circuit.
My pick for the first Test is:
Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Saha, Jadeja, Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami.
