🏏India vs West Indies,1st Test: N M Stadium, Ahmedabad, Day 3🏏 - Page 2

Captain’s Blueprint

Shubman Gill made it clear that he wants India’s home Tests to be a test of patience and skill rather than quick three-day finishes. “Over the past few years, Test matches in India haven’t really lasted for five days. We are looking to play some good hard cricket. We wouldn’t be looking for any easy options,” the skipper underlined, noting that spin and reverse swing will still be India’s biggest weapons.

Gill Signals End of Rank Turners Era

Shubman Gill, ahead of his first home Test as captain, hinted that India will move away from the rank turners favoured under Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. “We would be looking to play on wickets that offer help to both batters and bowlers,” Gill said, stressing his preference for truer surfaces that can stretch matches into the fifth day, much like India’s famous 2-2 draw in England earlier this year.

India and West Indies have contested in 10 bilateral series in the 21st century. WI won the five-match home series in 2002 by 2-1, while India won each of the next nine. WI haven't defeated India in a Test post those two wins in that 2002 series.

Chasing the improbable!

West Indies captain Roston Chase was born in March 1992. By that time, the West Indies were unbeaten in a Test series for 16 years, a run that lasted until the 1994-95 series against Australia.

“Champion outfit,” “legends,” “greats,” were the words he would have grown up listening to as he took his first steps and heard stories about the aura surrounding West Indies cricket.

The side he will be leading out on the park on Thursday is ranked eighth. He knows his side will be up against it.

“Obviously we’re not in a good position right now in terms of our Test status, and we are kind of low on the WTC table, but we have to put that behind us,” Chase told the media on match-eve.

“New Zealand came last year and dominated India, so we are really trying to learn from what they did. The analyst has sent the footage of the New Zealand series, and we really zoned in on the critical points that we want to focus on. I’ve played in India before, and I know that its spin friendly conditions. Spinners may have to bowl more of the overs,” Chase specified.

Deep Dasgupta: "It is time for the whites to come out, and it is time for the red ball to come out as we gather at the grandest cricket stadium in the world. This is the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. For the start of India's home summer, India take on West Indies in the first of the two-match Test series. Daren Ganga is alongside me. The uniqueness of this pitch or square lies in the number of soil types available. What do you make of this pitch?"

Daren Ganga: "Before talking about the pitch, a bit of history for you. The first ever Test match played at this venue was against West Indies in 1983. So, this is somewhat of a homecoming for the Windies. Indian cricket has become more versatile. If you go to my left, there are as many as 5 pitches that are made of black soil. To my right side, of course, they are red-soiled pitches. There is a pitch which is mixed with both black and red soils. The pitch we are going to play this game on, though, is a red-soiled surface. This will bind faster as less water is held. The ingredients of this pitch are though as a curator can allow you to gear it upto a spin-friendly track or gear it down to favour the seamers. There is an even covering of grass. To be honest, more significant coverage of grass than we had here in the past. Seamers will have something in it for them. We have had overcast weather, too. That will enhance the ball to swing. It is not only about conventional swing, but also about the reverse swing that we can expect here. This surface will definitely allow a fierce contest between bat and ball. It will turn as we progress in this Test match. So for me it is an excellent cricket pitch to start the first of a Test match."

Deep Dasgupta: "For me, as you mentioned, it is a red-soiled surface with a nice covering of grass. and on the touch, it feels slightly cold. There is some moisture as well. It shouldn't surprise you if the captain winning the toss opts to bowl because it looks like a spicy first session pitch. There is something in it for the seamers with the overcast conditions and rain hovering around."

Lost toss again

Shubman Gill: We have got four Tests (at home) before the end of the year and we would like to win all four. Preparation has been good. Everyone is in great touch, it is about getting into the red-ball mindset. It looks like a very good surface. Not disappointed with losing the toss, it has been under covers and there might be some help early on. We have two seamers - Bumrah and Siraj, three spinners - Jaddu Bhai, Washington and Kuldeep, and allrounder Nitish Reddy.

West Indies have won the toss and have opted to bat

Roston Chase: We are going to bat first. Looks a good one. There will be a bit of moisture, it is Test cricket and we will have to handle that first couple of hours. It is a young side, we want to come out and play some good cricket. We don't want to be batting last on this wicket as we know it will turn. We have gone with two seamers, two spinners and an allrounder.

Longest unbeaten streak against an opposition (Tests)

47 Eng v NZ (1930-75)
30 Eng v Pak (1961-82)
29 WI vs Eng (1976-88)
25 Ind v WI (2002-23) *
24 Aus v SA (1911-52)
24 WI v Ind (1948-71)

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

West Indies (Playing XI): Tagenarine Chanderpaul, John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Brandon King, Shai Hope(w), Roston Chase(c), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre, Johann Layne, Jayden Seales

Longest unbeaten streak against an opposition (Tests)
47 Eng v NZ (1930-75)
30 Eng v Pak (1961-82)
29 WI vs Eng (1976-88)
25 Ind v WI (2002-23) *
24 Aus v SA (1911-52)
24 WI v Ind (1948-71)

STAT: West Indies last beat India in a Test in May 2002 - 23 years and 25 Tests ago.

Originally posted by: SalluTheUllu

Lost toss again

Yeah 🤦

I don’t know whether Gill will win the toss in the Test match or not🤭

Thank you for the tag

2 gone already

Still cannot believe bumrah is playing this one

Siraj and boom got a wicket each.

20/2