With India set to play their first Test match in seven months, all eyes will be on how the team can transition from all the limited-overs cricket they have been playing since the start of 2016. The first Test is set to be played at North Sound in Antigua and this, like most of the other pitches in the Caribbean, will suit the Indian team because of the slow nature.
Considering the aforementioned factor, cricket fans can expect to see the Indian team thriving during the four-match Test series. Having said that, West Indies will be playing in conditions that are familiar to them and could spring a surprise or two with some of their players looking to prove a point and cement their place in the squad.
Since the start of the year, India has been in good form across the One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) formats and look like the stronger team ahead of the series. With much more experience in the Indian roster, the home side will have their work cut out and will be hoping they can stage a challenge against their stronger opponents.
Here we take a look at some records that can be broken during the four-match series:
#1 – Most hundreds in a four-match Test series
Despite all pitches in the series touted to be slow ones and not assisting batsmen greatly, it will take special efforts from some special players to help their team gain a competitive edge. The record for most centuries in a four-match series is currently held by six players, who have all scored four centuries in the series. One of those players is the Indian Test team captain, Virat Kohli.
Kohli has been in the form of his life since the year started and has been making and breaking records. It would only be natural that he continues this purple patch in the longer format of the game too. However, given the fact that Kohli will be batting at Number 4, the record could also be broken by one of the batsmen in the top order of the batting lineup.
Murali Vijay has been one of India's best batsmen in the Test format in the last couple of years and he will be looking to get India off to a good start as well as aim for personal milestones. His adaptability to all kinds of pitches could mean that he will perform extremely well in the series.
#2 – Fastest to 200 Test wickets
Ravichandran Ashwin has been India's best spinner in the longer format for a long time now. With 32 Test matches under his belt, Ashwin was picked up 176 wickets at an average of 25.39. Since making his Test debut in 2011, Ashwin has picked up wickets at a very good rate and stands a good chance of becoming the fastest bowler to reach 200 wickets. The current record is held by Australia's Clarence Grimmett, who reached 200 wickets in 36 Test matches.
Ashwin's most recent Test series was against South Africa at home where he had 31 wickets to his name in just four Tests. Although his form outside India has not been the best, the slow nature of pitches in the Caribbean should be something that Ashwin is able to thrive on and run through the West Indies batting lineup.
#3 – First Test win for West Indies against India since 2002
When we go through the history of Test cricket between India and West Indies we find that the Caribbeans have a much better record as they dominated a formative Indian side since India's independence. However, India has grown by leaps and bounds since opening their account against West Indies in 1971.
Since West Indies won the 2002 series against India in a thrilling manner, the Windies have failed to win a single Test against India. In the fifteen matches that were played since October 2002, India have won eight and the remaining seven matches were drawn.
Even though the West Indies have a weaker side on paper, the home side cannot be entirely ruled out from causing an upset. If the likes of Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Devendra Bishoo shine, it could help West Indies stage a tough challenge to the visitors.
#4 – Most catches in a four-match series
There was a time when Indian fielders were highly criticised for their lack of agility and fitness. However, the fielding standards of India have come a long way, with some of the world's best in the current Indian squad.
Ravindra Jadeja, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, are all extremely agile and brilliant on the field. Rahane, in particular, is one who can do an equally job in the circle, on the boundary as well as in the slip cordon. During the India-South Africa series in late 2015, Rahane had 10 catches to his name in four matches.
The record for the most number of catches in a four-match series is held by India's Rahul Dravid and West Indies’ Brian Lara, both of whom have 13 catches. With spin set to play a major part in the India-West Indies series, it is fair to assume that Rahane will get many opportunities while fielding in the slips.
#5 – Most number of consecutive maidens
When South Africa toured India in late 2015, the Test series ended with India winning the final match by their biggest margin ever (in terms of runs). The whole series had pitches that were very conducive to spinners. In the Delhi Test, Ravindra Jadeja displayed some bowling of great discipline as he gave nothing away to the Protea batsmen.
Jadeja bowled 17 consecutive maiden overs in the fourth innings of the Test as he came close to beating Indian bowler, Bapu Nadkarni's record of 21 consecutive maidens. As it has been underlined earlier, the pitches in West Indies will be slow and that will make the flow of runs more difficult. This, in turn, will assist the experienced Indian spinners and maybe, this time around, Jadeja can break Nadkarni's record.
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