India will play West Indies in the first Test match of the three-match series starting at the Kingston in Jamaica on June 20. The game will be played between June 20 and 24 and will see the Indians look to repeat what they had done the previous time they were in the region - win the Test series as well.
Click for Live Score Card of West Indies Vs India
India have had a decent start to their tour, having won the T20 and then having
clinched the ODIs. However, they will have their set of worries. For one, the
confidence of the West Indian side will be higher than usual, having won the last
two of the five games of the series. The Indians had tried to change things around
in the playing eleven alright but that is no excuse and the West Indians will
definitely be over the moon.
On the other hand, the Indians go into the Tests without many of their top-notch
players, who have not only decided to rest or are injured but have fallen foul
of the fitness during the series. one of them is Munaf Patel while there
is an Abhimanyu Mithun who hasn't got his visas issued in time which will not
allow him to go through for the first game. then there is a chance that Murali
Vijay may be injured and could miss the first Test but it remains to be seen
how those things pan out.
The batting will now be on the shoulders of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman,
who have yet to play a Test match since the series against South Africa late
last year. Since then, both were on a sabbatical and then played a few games
in the IPL, which has left them with no option but to quickly get into their
grooves.
On the other hand, the West Indies side is in a decent form but most
importantly, they have a decent side as well. They may not have Chris Gayle
in their line-up but the presence of the likes of Barath, Sarwan and Chanderpaul
will help them no end.
The bowling looks strong as well as they will look to the likes of Edwards, Rampaul
and Roach to rattle the Indian batting. It remains to be seen how well the Indian
batting cope with the attack.
India will be favourites to win it but a lot will depend on the way
the pitch behaves.
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