The T20 season is firmly behind us and the Test season is upon us. India’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket has become India’s coach at the most opportune time, with the team slated to play as many as 15 Tests in the next calendar year. The focus has clearly shifted from the razzmatazz of 20 over cricket to the grit-and-grind of 5 day cricket. What Test cricket might be in the future is up for debate, but for cricketers currently active, there is no doubt that it is the premier format of the game.
Read: India’s probable playing XI for the first Test; Virat Kohli and his boys enjoy some time in the sun ahead of gruelling tour
India travel to the sunny Caribbean islands for a 4 match Test series starting on the 21st of July in Antigua with a 15 man squad and a point to prove. Plenty of questions have been asked of India’s ability to perform in foreign conditions, with their batting line-up looking suspect and their bowling line-up lacking fizz. With a new coach imposing his rules on the team and a relatively new captain, this is as good a time as any for players to step up and make a push for a permanent starting line up in the Test squad.
With this in mind, we take a look at 5 players for whom this series will be crucial:
1) Shikhar Dhawan
The 30 year old from Delhi is surely India’s mystery man. Love him or hate him, you certainly can’t ignore him. Broke onto the scene a few years ago with a majestic century against Australia, 187 off 174 balls, the fastest on Test debut to ensure the selectors could not ignore him any longer. He followed this up with good showings as he made his way into both the ODI and T20 squads. However, a couple of years after that breakthrough knock, he was poor as India were rolled over in Australia and England in 2014 – 2015 and there were plenty who questioned his temparement and whether he was made for Test cricket. He has been staunchly backed by the team management, time and again coming up trumps and showing glimpses of why he is so highly regarded, but it has been in patches. Coming into the West Indies series, competition for the opener’s slot is as hot as ever and he will need to be at his best to retain a place in the squad.
2) KL Rahul
The 24 year old Mangalorean will be hoping that his senior member in the squad has his troubles in the opening couple of games to allow him to slot in and take his place. He has plenty going for him at the moment, his popularity sky rocketing after a few attractive performances in the IPL and the tour of Zimbabwe. What helps him further is that his ability to play Test matche cricket is unquestioned, having proven his credentials with two hundreds in his first five Tests. He also offers flexibility to the team composition being a wicket-keeper as well. While not known best for his wicket-keeping skills, his will be a name that will always be in the selectors’ minds if he improves his keeping his well. Should he get his chance, and he might, he should look to capitalize with a strong showing. He is just a couple of good knocks away from settling the debate on who India’s opener should be.
3) Ravichandran Ashwin
The 29 year old from Chennai faces a different kind of battle when he lines up alongside his teammates to take on the Windies. His place in India’s squad is unquestioned, having won an astonishing 5 ‘Man of the series’ trophies in his Test career so far. He sits pretty on top of ICC’s Test all rounder list and makes an appearance on the list for top bowlers as well. However, in India, every cricketer goes under the microscope and thus Ashwin does too, for his reputation of not being able to perform in overseas conditions. He has been labelled as a bully at home, completely dominant in sub-continent conditions but has been accused of going missing when India play away. This is surely a tag he will look to get off his back with a strong performance this series.
4) Amit Mishra
It’s do-or-die time for the 32 year old from Delhi. For so long he has been on the fringes of the Indian team, but this might just be his big break. Age should not be a concern for Mishra as leg spinners have the ability to go on and play for a number of years. He would be more focussed on creating an impression in this series and proving to be a match-winner. With the appointment of Anil Kumble as coach, Mishra should definitely benefit and get a crack at establishing himself as the number one leg spinner in the country. He faces a battle before the first ball is bowled, a battle to make it to the playing XI. His performance in the first warm-up game surely helped but he will need another performance to lock in a place in the starting XI.
5) Mohammed Shami
The 26 year old from Uttar Pradesh faced the same problem that so many Indian quicks over the past years have, he has not been able to keep himself fit. After making a big impact in the early part of his Test career, disaster struck for the seamer as his knee started giving him problems and he had to undergo surgery. One can only hope that it doesn’t prove to be a recurring concern for him. For Shami, he will first need to prove his fitness. Only if he feels at 100 percent, can he give is best and bowl at 100 percent. With the possiblity of India only fielding two seamers, he will be required to toil away long and hard in search of a wicket. If Shami can prove his fitness, he might have a promising future in Test cricket.
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