India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Monday won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against West Indies in Jamaica. Going ahead with a 2-2 bowling combination India have rested Pragyan Ojha and Munaf Patel while Abhinav Mukund, Virat Kolhi and pacer Praveen Kumar make their test debuts.
India's bowling attack depends upon Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra which is ironical given the crying need for pacers on a hard and bouncy Sabina Park pitch. India is missing three of its regular batsmen but still has enough class to post a healthy total on the board.
In Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, the tourists have two batsmen who have 270 Tests and 47 centuries, besides nearly 20,000 Test runs between them. There would be some individual motivations for the Indians as Harbhajan Singh is just seven shy of the 400-wicket mark while Ishant Sharma (31 Tests) needs 10 more for his 100th wicket in Tests. Laxman (120 Tests) needs 97 runs to complete 8,000 runs.
In the West Indies camp, meanwhile, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul and Darren Sammy will form the pace attack as Kemar Roach and Marlon Samuels have been left out. Despite missing Chris Gayle, the hosts look a reasonable side on paper. Opener Lendl Simmons was among the runs in the one-day series and left-hander Darren Bravo, along with the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan, made a telling score in the final game. Veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul will add muscle to the middle order as would the underperforming Marlon Samuels.
Squads
India: MS Dhoni (capt), Abhinav Mukund, Murali Vijay, Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma
West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Brendan Nash (vice-captain), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels and Ramnaresh Sarwan
Match time: Live from Jamaica on TEN Cricket from 8:30 pm
