In India, even a draw is viewed as a defeat and the scars of their last home series loss to New Zealand still linger. With World Test Championship points on the line and South Africa’s tour looming in November, India cannot afford a slip-up.
Gill has hinted at moving away from rank turners — the kind that backfired against New Zealand — towards truer surfaces that test both batters and bowlers.
The grassy red-soil pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium could bring both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj into play alongside India’s rich spin arsenal of Jadeja, Axar, Kuldeep, and Washington Sundar.
For West Indies, injuries to their pace duo Shamar and Alzarri Joseph have left them thin on firepower, with captain Roston Chase and Jomel Warrican carrying the spin load.
India, meanwhile, are juggling selection calls at No. 3 between Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, while Dhruv Jurel’s promotion could allow a rare four-spinner strategy.
“We are looking to play hard, grinding cricket…we wouldn’t be looking for any easy options,” Gill stressed on match eve. As he gears up to lead India for the first time in front of a home crowd, the stakes are clear: win big, win smart, and climb the WTC table.
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Squads:
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), N Jagadeesan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel(w), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy
West Indies Squad: John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Brandon King, Roston Chase(c), Shai Hope(w), Justin Greaves, Khary Pierre, Johann Layne, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican, Jediah Blades, Kevlon Anderson, Tevin Imlach
