This momentous game will signify the 100th Test match between the two teams. While India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, acknowledged the significance of this occasion, his team is anticipated to dominate the West Indies, just as they did in the series opener in Dominica.
Following the match at the Queen’s Park Oval, India’s next Test outing will only take place during their tour of South Africa in December-January. This leaves players like Rahane with one more opportunity to make an indelible impression on the selectors, ensuring that he cannot be overlooked for the away series against the Proteas.
In his first Test appearance in 18 months, which coincided with the World Test Championship final last month, Rahane stood out as a prominent batsman for India. However, he may rue the missed chance on a slow, turning pitch in Dominica, where the visitors needed to bat only once.
There is a strong possibility that India will once again bat only once in the upcoming Test, placing emphasis on Rahane’s performance. Additionally, Shreyas Iyer, currently undergoing rehabilitation after a back surgery, is expected to be available for the South Africa tour.
Batting coach Vikram Rathour emphasized the importance of having an in-form Rahane for the upcoming journey to South Africa in the lead-up to this game.
“When it comes to technique, you constantly work on that but what stood out for me that he was much more calm in his approach. He was playing late and close to the body. He is still batting the same way in the nets.
“We hope he will do well. Conditions in South Africa, you will need somebody like him to come good,” Rathour said ahead of the second Test.
Following an innings and 141-run victory in three days, no major changes are expected in the playing eleven but it remains to be seen if left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat gets another opportunity.
The 31-year-old, who featured in only his third Test in 13 years, was the lone Indian bowler who did not pick a wicket in Dominica and bowled only nine overs.
India spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja made merry on a track offering turn in the series opener and another turner is on the cards with the West Indies replacing batting all-rounder Ramon Reifer with spin all-rounder Kevin Sinclair.
If that is indeed the case, India will be tempted to play another spinner in Axar Patel at Unadkat’s expense.
Shardul Thakur can also be benched to accommodate Axar, whose batting has improved by leaps and bounds in the last 12 months.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who became only the third Indian to score 150 on his debut, will be looking to extend his purple patch. Shubman Gill could only last 11 balls after dropping himself down to number three and he will be itching to go out in the middle.
Virat Kohli, who has not made an overseas Test hundred since December 2018, also will be eyeing a big knock after a dogged 76 in the opener.
After taking 20 balls for his first run in Test cricket, Ishan Kishan would be eagerly waiting for his chance in the middle after impressing the skipper with his keeping skills against Ashwin and Jadeja on his debut.
Barring debutant Alick Athanaze, none of the West Indies batters were comfortable against high quality spin and are likely to struggle if the ball turns as much as it did in Dominica.
West Indies might be better off with a pitch that aids fast bowling, bringing Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph in the game. That could be the only way they are able to put pressure on the Indian batting line up.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva (wicket-keeper), Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Kevin Sinclair, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.
