India, led by Shubman Gill, are strong favorites as they begin a home two-Test series against a West Indies team grappling with injuries, starting Thursday. Once a cricket powerhouse, the West Indies have faced years of decline. Their T20 team recently hit a new low, losing a series to Nepal, a non-Test playing nation.
This year, the West Indies were swept 3-0 at home by Australia in Tests, bowled out for just 27 in the third match—the second-lowest score in Test history. This disaster led West Indies cricket chief Kishore Shallow to call for an emergency meeting with past legends.
Injuries sidelined pacers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, prompting late changes in the squad led by Roston Chase. They were replaced by newcomers Johann Layne and left-arm quick Jediah Blades, both with limited experience.
Jayden Seales is the only experienced pace bowler, having played over 10 Tests. Meanwhile, India is riding high after a thrilling 2-2 draw in their five-Test series in England, concluded in August.
This series was Gill’s first as captain, marking a new era without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, all retired. Gill excelled, scoring 754 runs, the highest by an Indian in an England series.
Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, returns swiftly post his T20 Asia Cup success, taking two wickets in the final against Pakistan in Dubai. His workload is managed carefully after an earlier injury in Australia.
He rested for two Tests in England, where Mohammed Siraj shone as the leading bowler with 23 wickets. For the West Indies, Chase is joined by spinners Jomel Warrican and Khary Pierre, set for his Test debut.
“I always strive for more… hard work beats talent when talent fails,” said Pierre, 34, after a domestic season claiming 41 wickets. “I’ve given my all on the field—blood, sweat, tears—and it paid off.”
The second Test is scheduled in New Delhi from October 10-14.
India (from): Shubman Gill (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Axar Patel, N. Jagadeesan.
West Indies (from): Roston Chase (capt), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Johann Layne, Jediah Blades, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican.
