Team India is set to field a relatively young playing XI in the first test against West Indies beginning from July 12 in Dominica. Keeper-batter Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal are all set to make their test debut while pacer Navdeep Saini will make a return to the test squad after a long time.
Here’s the Team India Probable XI for the first test against West Indies
1. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma will lead the side after a heartbreaking loss against Australia in the WTC 2023 final. He will certainly look to provide a great start to the Men in Blue in the first series of the WTC 2023-25 cycle.
2. Shubman Gill
Team India’s young sensation Shubman Gill couldn’t contribute much with the bat in the WTC 2023 final. However, he has been in great form for the last one year and hence will retain his spot in the playing XI.
3. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Aggressive Mumbai batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is all set to make his international debut in the first test against West Indies. He will replace Cheteshwar Pujara in the playing XI.
4. Virat Kohli
Star batter Virat Kohli will look to continue his form in the series against West Indies and contribute significantly as the main stay in the Indian middle order.
5. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane was the star performer with the bat for the Indian team in the WTC final. He will look to carry his sublime form in the series beginning from July 12.
6. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja will be crucial for Team India’s success against West Indies as the bowling lineup is relatively inexperienced.
7. Ishan Kishan
Young keeper-batter Ishan Kishan is all set to make his test debut in the first test against West Indies. KS Bharat has failed with the bat and the Indian Team needs a wicketkeeper who could score some crucial runs.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
The experienced off-spinner will make a comeback into the playing XI after missing out in the WTC final. He will lead the bowling unit in the absence of Mohammed Shami.
9. Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur will retain his place as the seam-bowling all-rounder after performing decently in the past one year.
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10. Navdeep Saini
Navdeep Saini is all set to make a return into the Indian test squad for his sheer pace. He made his test debut in the Border-Gavaskar series in 2021.
11. Mohammad Siraj
Mohammad Siraj will lead the pace attack and will look to continue the kind of form he has been in the past one year.
