Rajkot Test: India elect to bat first against Windies

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Rajkot (Gujarat) [India], Oct 4 : India won the toss and opted to bat first in the first Test of the two-match series against West Indies at the Saurashtra Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.

After winning the toss, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said, ” Best time to bat, (we) have three spinners who will come into the game later on. Shardul misses out but he’s not far away. Umesh has a chance, (he) didn’t get game time, so here’s his chance (to express himself).

” 18-year-old Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw became India’s 293rd Test cricketer to make debut when he was handed a cap by Kohli. Earlier, there were speculations that pacer Shardul Thakur would make his Test debut against the Caribbean side.

West Indies batsman Kraigg Brathwaite, who came out for the toss in place of regular skipper Jason Holder, confirmed that the latter would not play in the match due to an ankle injury.

“Jason Holder is not playing, he’s got a slight ankle injury so he’s resting. Would’ve batted as well, we’re quite happy nonetheless,” said Brathwaite. Meanwhile, Sunil Ambris and Shermaine Lewis will make their debut for West Indies. Regular faces such as Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Ishant Sharma will not participate in the two-match series against the Caribbean side.

For the visiting side, pacer Kemar Roach will sit out of the Rajkot Test, following the death of his grandmother in Barbados.

Here are the playing XIs of the two sides: India Playing XI: KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav.

West Indies Playing XI: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Sunil Ambris, Shane Dowrich (wk), Keemo Paul, Devendra Bishoo, Sherman Lewis, Shannon Gabriel.