India (IND) will be up against West Indies (WI) in the first Test match of the India Tour of West Indies at Windsor Park in Roseau from July 12. India have been in decent form in this format in the last few matches, where they have managed to win two and draw a game in their last five encounters. West Indies, on the other hand, have been able to win just one match in their last five matches. India starts the series as favourites, and it would require special efforts from West Indies to evade clean sweep in this format.
India had squared off against Australia in their last match, where India won the toss and elected to field. Batting on a good track, the pair of Steve Smith and Travis Head made the most of it as they both scored centuries, and Australia posted a huge total of 469 runs. In reply, India didn’t do well with the bat, but with some resistance towards the end, they managed to score 296 runs. In the second innings, Australia batted well and scored 270 runs for the loss of eight wickets, after which they declared their innings, and India were given a huge target of 444 runs. India started well, but no player could convert their starts into bigger scores which ultimately meant the team was bowled out for 234, and Australia won the match by 209 runs.
West Indies played against South Africa in their last encounter, where the toss was won by South Africa, who elected to bat. South Africa started well, with their top order scoring the majority of the runs scored by the team. South Africa posted a good total of 320 runs on the board in reply to which West Indies had a horrible start. Jason Holder did show some resistance down the order playing a fantastic knock of 81 runs, due to which West Indies reached 251 runs on the board. Temba Bavuma batted out the entire innings scoring 172 runs and helping his team score 321 runs in the second innings as well. West Indies had a huge target of 391 runs ahead of them, and they were completely squashed under the score. They were bowled out at 106 runs, and South Africa won the match by 284 runs.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI
West Indies
Kraigg Brathwaite(C), Jermaine Blackwood, T Chanderpaul, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Raymon Reifer, J Da Silva(wk), Alzarri Joseph, G Moti-Kanhai, Kemar Roach
BENCH : Devon Thomas, A Athanaze, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Pooran, Shannon Gabriel, Johnson Charles, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, KAR Hodge, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul, Y Cariah, Odean Smith, Kevin Sinclair, DC Drakes, AJ Hosein
India
