5 Players to watch out for in the West Indies v India 1st Test

India’s mission for a third successive Test series win in West Indies begins officially from 21st July under the leadership of Virat Kohli at Antigua.

A tough challenge awaits both sides. West Indies are struggling to settle in the longest format and the Indian team has a lot of new faces with regard to their previous tour.

On the low and slow Caribbean pitches, a big ask awaits all the players. The ones who are able to keep doing things right with patience will prevail at the end of it. Let us look at 5 players to watch out for in the first Test:

1. Ajinkya Rahane

India’s new man of crisis, Ajinkya Rahane has established the reputation of a reliable middle order batsman under the shadow of Virat Kohli. He has played most of his Tests outside India and never failed to impress, chipping in with crucial innings time and again.

Just when his last Test series against the touring South African was looking quiet, he exploded in the final Test with hundreds in both innings on a dying pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla. It was also the first time he scored a century at home. Before that, he had smashed a match winning ton in Sri Lanka helping India to a rare series win in Sri Lanka.

With the added responsibility of vice-captaincy, Ajinkya Rahane is bound to get better with time and with the kind of technique and patience he possesses, he will be the one to anchor the Indian innings.

Also read – WI v Ind, 1st Test Preview: Rejuvenated Indians aim for a fresh start