India’s journey in the new World Test Championship cycle begins today on home soil, with a pivotal match against a somewhat depleted West Indies in Ahmedabad. This isn’t just any game; it marks Shubman Gill’s debut as Test captain at home, a role that comes with immense pressure. In India, anything less than a victory in a home Test series is often seen as a setback, and the memory of their last home series loss to New Zealand still serves as a stark reminder of the stakes involved. With crucial WTC points up for grabs and a challenging tour by South Africa looming in November, India cannot afford any missteps.
Gill has indicated a strategic shift, moving away from pitches designed for excessive spin, which proved problematic against New Zealand. Instead, the focus is on creating ‘truer surfaces’ that offer a fair contest between bat and ball. The Narendra Modi Stadium is set to feature a grassy, red-soil pitch, a surface that promises to bring both seamers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, and India’s formidable spin battery—including Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar—into play.
For the West Indies, this series presents a significant challenge. Key pace bowlers Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph are sidelined due to injuries, leaving their attack with reduced firepower. Captain Roston Chase and Jomel Warrican will bear much of the burden with an inexperienced spin lineup, facing an uphill battle against India’s well-rounded batting unit. The visitors’ batting depth will also be thoroughly examined on this testing red-soil pitch, with India’s bowlers poised to make early inroads.
Inside the Indian camp, selection dilemmas persist, particularly for the crucial No. 3 batting position, where Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal are strong contenders. There’s also speculation about Dhruv Jurel potentially moving up the order, which could pave the way for an aggressive four-spinner strategy. Gill’s message to his team is clear: “We are looking to play hard, grinding cricket…we wouldn’t be looking for any easy options.” As he steps out to lead India in front of the home crowd for the first time, the objective is unambiguous: deliver dominant performances, play smart cricket, and steadily ascend the WTC table.
Squads for the 1st Test:
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), N Jagadeesan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel(w), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy
West Indies Squad: John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Brandon King, Roston Chase(c), Shai Hope(w), Justin Greaves, Khary Pierre, Johann Layne, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican, Jediah Blades, Kevlon Anderson, Tevin Imlach