India vs West Indies, 1st Test: Onus on batters to compensate for depleted pace attack | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: With the injection of new blood at the top of the batting order, the high-profile Indian willow wielders will have to come up with significant contributions to compensate for a relatively weak bowling attack as Rohit Sharma and co. gear up for the first Test in Dominica, starting Wednesday.
Skipper Rohit confirmed on the eve of the first Test that young gun Yashasvi Jaiswal will open the batting alongside him and Shubman Gill, who has hit a purple patch in last 5-6 months will move to the no.3 slot in the two-Test series.
Without injured spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and a rested Mohammed Shami, a depleted pace attack will be led by Mohammed Siraj, who has 19 Tests to his name in form of experience.

The Test series is being viewed as the starting point of a transition period for Rohit Sharma’s side, who lost to Australia in the World Test Championship final last month.

Other established bowlers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav have been overlooked in favour of Jaydev Unadkat and Navdeep Saini, who have played two Tests each, and the uncapped Mukesh Sharma.
While they remain the world’s top-ranked Test team and begin as favourites against eighth-placed West Indies, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane said there would be no complacency against a side who beat England in successive home series.

“We, as a team, respect West Indies. They are not the ones to be taken lightly,” the batsman told reporters.
“West Indies has performed well at home during the last couple of years or so, especially in Tests. We are looking to give our 100% and backing our gameplan and strengths.”
Change is also coming to the batter order, where Jaiswal will be opening alongside Rohit and Gill set to replace veteran Cheteshwar Pujara at number three.
Jaiswal has already built a reputation as a hard-hitting batter in the Indian Premier League, an approach which stands in stark contrast to Pujara’s often dour displays.
“I am so happy for Jaiswal, he has worked so hard, scored runs for Mumbai in domestic cricket and in the IPL,” Rahane said.
“He is an exciting talent and the way he is batting is nice.”
West Indies will see the series as a chance to lift the mood after they failed to qualify for this year’s 50-overs World Cup in India, a new low for the two-time champions.
“It’s important to start well,” home captain Kraigg Brathwaite said on Sunday.

“We generally know how the surfaces will play, and we already know India’s team, so it’s important from now to mentally prepare, and understand the plans we want both as a bowling unit and as batters.”

(With inputs from Reuters)