West Indies vs India 2016: Rajendra Chandrika replaced by Shai Hope in West Indies squad for third Test

West Indies have decided to drop struggling opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika from the 14-man-squad for the third Test against India, which begins on August 9 in St Lucia. He will be replaced by Barbados’ 22-year-old right-handed batsman Shai Hope who had scored a memorable century against India playing for the West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI in a two-day practice match ahead of the Test series which began at Antigua.

After suffering an embarrassing defeat by an innings and 92 runs at the hands of the visitors in the opening match, West Indies yet again looked like heading to a heavy defeat in the second Test as well before a spirited fightback led by Roston Chase helped the hosts draw the match and thus maintain a fighting chance for themselves in the four-match series.

West Indies have been particularly struggling at the top of the order with the batsmen failing to stitch together meaningful partnerships thus allowing the Indian bowlers to make early inroads. With scores of 16,31, 5 and 1 in his four innings so far, Chandrika has been one of the main reasons for the team’s continuous failure to put together a meaningful opening partnership and a number of the home fans had been calling for him to be dropped from the squad.

With 140 runs in his 5 Tests so far, at an average of 14, the worst for any West Indies opener who has played 10 or more innings, the West Indies selectors have run out of patience with the 26-year-old and have decided to give Hope another shot at the international level.

With 171 runs in six Tests at an average of just under 16, Hope’s record till date is far from impressive but the 22-year-old has been in impressive form off late in the domestic circuit scoring two hundreds in his last three matches in the WICB Professional Cricket League four-day tournament.

With West Indies skipper Jason Holder expressing hope that the fightback shown by his side in the second innings at Jamaica doesn’t prove to a one-off, Hope will hopeful of making an impact right away against the Indian bowling line-up which he batted with much confidence at St Kitts.

West Indies squad for third Test: Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels.