India vs West Indies 2018, Second Test - Toss Report

West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first against India in the second Test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.

Here is what the captains said:

Jason Holder:

“We are going to bat first. Looks a pretty good wicket to bat on. It’s touggh sitting out and watch the game but that’s bound to happen. We have left out Keemo Paul.”

Virat Kohli:

“Looks like a good pitch. We are not bothered of the toss but I would have batted first as well. We have to focus on this series, just focussing on repeat the things we did in the first game. Shami has been rested as he bowled a lot in the first Test, Shardul Thakur gets a game.”

Preview:

West Indies were never going to challenge India in these conditions and they did little to prove the popular view wrong. In fact, their performance was way poor than anyone was expecting. While the majority was expecting them lose the game, no one was expecting such a meek capitulation.

India outplayed West Indies in all the departments in the series-opener at Rajkot. Barring KL Rahul’s wicket in the first over of the game, nothing went the visitors’ way. With the bat India piled up 649 for 9 before bowling out the Caribbean outfit for 181 and 196 to register their biggest win in Tests.

West Indies are unlikely to mount a serious challenge in the second Test too but will be boosted by the return of their skipper Jason Holder and pace spearhead Kemar Roach. Their presence would be a huge help for the bowling attack, which lacked the sting in the first Test as the inexperienced pair of Keemo Paul and Sherman Lewis struggled for consistency. West Indies will also have to bat out of their skins if they are eyeing a good show after a horror one in Rajkot.

For India, it is their final chance to make any experiment before they fly out to Australia for the much-awaited Test series.

Playing elevens:

West Indies:

Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich(w), Jason Holder(c), Devendra Bishoo, Jomel Warrican, Shannon Gabriel

India:

Prithvi Shaw, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur