India against the West Indies might not look like much of a contest on the face of it. But as the second Test gets underway today, there are a lot of subplots that promise to be interesting. (More Cricket news)
One is Ishan Kishan.
The wicketkeeper-batter made his long format debut in the first Test in Roseau, Dominica, which India won by an innings and 141 runs. He did not get much of a bat as India declared when he was not out on one run.
But he did get to keep. And captain Rohit Sharma was impressed.
“He kept really, really well considering he played his first Test and to keep against (Ravi) Ashwin and (Ravi) Jadeja where the ball is turning and bouncing and some balls keeping low as well... I was very impressed with his keeping skills,” Sharma said.
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“Unfortunately he got to score just one run as we had to declare. We want that our top-order batters bat long. If the opportunity comes (to bat long), he (Ishan) is raring to go.”
Sharma said he has given Kishan, the strokeful Mumbai Indians opener, freedom to express himself with the bat.
"I have had a clear conversation with him on how I want him to play and have given him complete freedom. He has the game and if he wants a bit of freedom to express himself, then that is our job. We will do that with Ishan," Sharma said.
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Another batter who will be on the lookout for a big score is the seasoned Ajinkya Rahane. Back in the good books of selectors after his lone man standing act in the World Test Championship final, Rahane will want to press home the advantage
with a big knock, especially as Shreyas Iyer, his competition for the same spot, is expected to recover from his back injury.
Rahane managed just three in the first Test, but he has done enough in the recent past to not be punished for one failure. Besides, batting coach Vikram Rathour hinted Rahane will be retained for the South Africa tour later in the year.
"When it comes to technique, you constantly work on that, but what stood out for me was that he (Rahane) was much more calm in his approach. He was playing late and close to the body. He is still batting the same way in the nets,” Rathour said. “We hope he will do well. Conditions in South Africa, you will need somebody like him to come good.”
On the bowling front, left arm spinner Axar Patel is expected to be picked over lefty pacer Jaydev Unadkat, the only Indian bowler who went wicketless in the first Test, and who bowled just nine overs.
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The weather in Port of Spain has not been ideal and rain is expected.
Where to watch: The second India vs West Indies Test will be shown live on JioCinema app, FanCode app and Doordarshan from 7.30 pm IST.
Squads:
India: 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.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva (wicket-keeper), Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Kevin Sinclair, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.
