Ajinkya Rahane will try to extend his career by playing big innings as the Indian team will eye a clean sweep in the second and final cricket Test against the West Indies starting here on Thursday. This match is also the 100th Test between the two teams. Indian captain Rohit Sharma has said that this is a big opportunity and his team will try to maintain their dominance like in the first match. In the first match in Dominica, India won by an innings and 141 runs. After the Test starting here from tomorrow, India now has to play Test on South Africa tour in December-January itself. That is, this is the last chance for players like Rahane to cement their claim for selection in the team of that series. Rahane, playing his first Test in 18 months, did well in the World Test Championship final but could not get chances in Dominica as India batted for one innings.
There is a strong possibility that the Indian team will bat once again. In such a situation, Rahane will have to take full advantage as Shreyas Iyer will also be fit before the tour of South Africa. Batting coach Vikram Rathour had said before the match that India would need Rahane to be in form for the tour of South Africa. He said, “You work continuously on the technique but I was impressed by his steady attitude. He was playing the ball late and near the body too. He is playing like this in the nets as well. Such a batsman will be needed in the conditions of South Africa. Will bowler Jaydev Unadkat get a chance again or not? Unadkat, 31, has played only three Tests in 13 years. In Dominica, he did not get a single wicket and bowled only nine overs.
In the first match, spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja spoke out. This match too is expected to turn the pitch with spin all-rounder Kevin Sinclair being included in place of batting all-rounder Ramon Reifer in the Caribbean team. In such a situation, the Indian team can replace Akshar Patel as another spinner in place of Unadkat. Shardul Thakur can also get a chance, whose batting has improved a lot. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who became the third Indian batsman to score more than 150 runs in Test debut, would like to maintain this momentum. Shubman Gill could play only 11 balls after landing at number three and he too would be desperate to play a big innings. Virat Kohli, who could not score a century abroad since December 2018, would like to make up for that gap, while Ishaan Kishan, who waited for 20 balls to score his first run in Test debut, will also be waiting for his chance.
Barring debutant for the West Indies, none of the batsmen could face the Indian spinners. He needs a pitch conducive to fast bowlers so that Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph can do wonders. Teams: India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat, Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Akshar Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini. West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blockwood, Joshua DaSilva, Alick Athanaj, Rahkeem Cornwell, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, T Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican. Match time: 7 pm. From 30
