India vs Windies: Kemar Roach ruled out of the first Test

India and Windies will lock horns in the first of the two-match Test series on Thursday in Rajkot. But the visitors have been dealt with a severe blow ahead of the series opener as their ace fast bowler Kemar Roach has been ruled out. He had to rush back to his home Barbados last week following the death of his grandmother and also missed the two-day practice match against Board President’s XI in Vadodara.

He was expected to join the squad in time for the first Test but will now be reaching India halfway through the encounter. The news was confirmed by the coach Stuart Law on Tuesday as he informed that Roach is with his family in the bereavement and admitted that the team will miss him a lot. However, he was also quick to confirm that the pacer will be back for the second and final Test in Hyderabad.

“Unfortunately Kemar is not back in the country yet, he’s had a bereavement in the family, unfortunately, he’s had to go home in Barbados. He will be rejoining the squad halfway through the Test match, he should be back in the country and ready to go for the second Test. Kemar Roach is very experienced, has great skills and is one of our leaders in the group, he’s a big loss. Missing Kemar is a big hole,” Law was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Holder and Gabriel need to step up

In Kemar Roach’s absence, the likes of Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel will have to step up for Windies during the Test match. Roach had picked up a five-wicket haul during his last Test appearance against Bangladesh at home. He had scalped all those five wickets in a span of 12 deliveries before sustaining a hamstring injury. The lanky fast bowler was rested for the second game of the series.

Holder and Gabriel also fared well in the series. But the challenge of bowling to the Indian batsmen in their own den is huge and they will be gearing to trouble them.

The other fast bowlers in the squad are Sherman Lewis and Keemo Paul as one of them is likely to play with Roach being ruled out of the first match.

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