IND vs WI: Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini And Mukesh Kumar Fight It Out For Third Pacer's Spot For 1st Test- Reports

The Indian team management will have its task cut out when it sits down to select the bowling lineup for the upcoming first Test between West Indies and India. The first match of the two-Test series is scheduled to get underway on July 12 in Dominica.

Rohit Sharma & Co. will be looking to hit the ground running as they return to action for the first time since suffering the humiliating loss at the hands of Australia in the World Test Championship final last month.

Team India just cannot afford to take the series lightly as it will kickstart their campaign in the third cycle of the WTC. West Indies are also a formidable Test team in their backyard and are more than capable of springing a surprise or two.

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Talking India’s bowling lineup, it will have a new look. With the likes of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah absent, the team’s pace department will bear a new look. Mohammed Siraj is likely to spearhead the pace attack while Shardul Thakur is set to partner with him after impressing in the WTC final last month. Both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are also likely to play the Test.

India’s fifth bowler’s spot up for grabs in IND vs WI 1st Test:

According to the Times of India, Jaydev Unadkat, Mukesh Kumar, and Navdeep Saini are locked in a three-way fight for the third pacer’s spot in the bowling lineup. The last Test at the venue saw Pakistan’s pacers Mohammed Amir, Hasan Ali, and Mohammed Abbas taking 11 wickets, while leg-spinner Yasir Shah accounted for the remaining nine scalps across two innings.

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Looking at the aforementioned figures, one can say that the ground is likely to assist the pacers as well as the spinners. Teams usually go with three fast bowlers in Caribbean conditions and it has opened the door for Unadkat, Mukesh Kumar, and Saini.

And picking one of them won’t be easy for the team management as all three pacers offer something unique. While Unadkat will offer the left-arm angle, Saini is known for his pace. Mukesh, on the other hand, has made a reputation for himself for his ability to swing the ball.

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