India plays West Indies in two Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is starting October 4.
India has gone in with a new look Test side, giving rest to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah and dropping M Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan for their poor performances in the England Test series. This meant that Mayank Agarwal and Mohammed Siraj got their maiden call-ups to the Indian team.
Keeping that in mind, Team COC presents to you the predicted India XI for the first Test at Rajkot.
Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant are more or less likely to retain their places in the middle order, given their consistency and the fact that the series is played at the home. Pujara, Kohli, and Pant scored centuries in the England series, while Rahane also played some important innings and will likely get their due. Pant was competent with the gloves in England and with no other option in sight with Saha still out with injury, is likely to be retained.
Since the Test is being played at Rajkot, the pitch is expected to be a turning one and Ravindra Jadeja might be a surety to play, given that it is his home ground. His partner in crime R Ashwin might also play given that their partnership has routed many opponents at home.
These two will have to make up for the absence of Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah in the squad, with the help of rookies Shardul and Siraj.
COC Predicted India Playing XI for the first Test:
KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav