India’s team list for the WI Test series: Rohit Sharma (c), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

Who will bat at No.3?

The Indian team have seemingly moved on from Cheteshwar Pujara, who averaged 25.85 in 2023 (albeit having played three of his five Test matches on difficult pitches), as they enter a phase of transition.  The No.3 spot will come down to the uncapped Jaiswal and Gaikwad.

Though both open for their respective state teams, Jaiswal made 213 and 144 while batting at No.3 recently in the Irani Cup. However, the choice between the two will not be straightforward.

Jaiswal averages 80.21 in first-class cricket, has shown the calibre against high pace in this year’s IPL, and his nine first-class hundreds demonstrate his ability to play long innings. He could also add impetus to the innings – he strikes at 67 – a department Pujara often struggled in. However, he has played only 15 games in his career – have the selectors rushed him into the Test team?

Gaikwad also had a brilliant 2023 IPL. However, he averages just over 42 in first-class cricket – not great numbers by Indian domestic cricket standards – and his selection over consistent domestic performers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sarfaraz Khan has been debated.

He has been out bowled or lbw 17 times in 28 first-class matches, indicating struggles against the ball close to the body. Not long ago, the BCCI had rewarded Ajinkya Rahane with a Test comeback after a stellar IPL. Gaikwad seems to be yet another example, but does he have the game to withstand the new ball on bouncy conditions?

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Bharat or Kishan?

Ever since Rishabh Pant’s accident, every series brings up discussions about the wicketkeeper. Bharat has donned the responsibility in his absence, edging out Kishan. Bharat has been consistent behind the stumps, even on difficult wickets. He has taken blinders, the most memorable being David Warner’s catch, but like the drop of Travis Head, there have been the low moments as well.

Bharat has been unremarkable with the bat as well – he has made 129 runs in five Tests – though it can be argued that three of his matches were low-scoring, on difficult wickets, and all five have been against Australia, the world champions in the format.

Outside Test cricket, Bharat averages 37.96, very similar to Kishan’s 38.76. However, Kishan is a quicker scorer, and more importantly, a left-hander who can break the monotony of the right-handed Indian top order.

The West Indies tour will be the perfect opportunity to try out youngsters. Kishan may be one of them.

How will India boost the lower batting order?

With Bharat’s ordinary batting returns, India’s batting effectively ends at No.6, with Jadeja. They need to strengthen their lower order, but have limited options, with either Ashwin or Thakur, or even Axar expected to slot in at No.8, and a keeper at No.7.

Ashwin was left out of the XI for the WTC final against Australia, and may not be a certainty if the conditions have little assistance. He has played just 13 Test matches outside the subcontinent in the last five years, and was not a part of the XI in either of the two Tests when India last toured the West Indies in 2019.

Ashwin has five Test hundreds. and has played crucial knocks down the order in the recent past, including making a decisive 42 not out in Mirpur in December. His presence instantly uplifts India’s batting depth, but he might not feature at all.

In that case, India may include Thakur, who has impressed with the bat at times, making four fifties in 16 innings. His batting average of 20.33 has to do with the fact that all but one of his Test matches have been in ‘SENA’ countries. Also prone to leaking runs on off days, he brings with him a sense of unpredictability.

If India go ahead with Bharat as the wicketkeeper due to his keeping skills, the No.8 position will be even more important for them.

Who are India’s quicks?

With Mohammed Shami reportedly rested and Umesh Yadav missing out due to injury, the fast-bowling duties will fall on Siraj and Unadkat. The left-hander Unadkat can bowl long ‘dry’ spells, something the Indian team lacked during the WTC final. Siraj can be inconsistent, and India will require a third quick who can control the run flow through the innings.

Apart from Thakur (Test economy 3.54), the other fast bowlers in the squad are Saini and Mukesh. Saini showed his mettle during India’s historic win in Australia in 2020/21, but has not played a Test match since then. He missed the last Ranji Trophy, and claimed 1-122 in his only outing in the County Championship. Mukesh, on the other hand, picked up 22 wickets at 22.27 in the last edition of the Ranji Trophy.