India Tour Of West Indies, 1st Test | 5 Player Battles To Watch Out For

image-ljvd9stcAll eyes will be on Virat Kohli [Source: Twitter]

To the delight of cricket fans across the globe, India's much-awaited tour of West Indies begins with the first Test of the two-match series in Dominica this Wednesday. While the Indian team would be keen to get a dream start to the third World Test Championship cycle, West Indies would be desperate to prove themselves after a disastrous outing in the World Cup qualifiers. 

Meanwhile, there are several on-field battles, which could decide the outcome of the Test series. As both teams gear up for a fascinating clash at the Windsor park, we provide you with five such player battles to watch out for in the game. 


1) Virat Kohli vs Jason Holder

After debuting in 2008, Virat Kohli gradually established himself as a vital cog in the Indian team across formats. Regarded as one of the finest-ever batters to grace the game, Kohli holds a stupendous record against West Indies. However, his on-field battle against Jason Holder could be interesting, considering the former Windies skipper has dismissed him twice in Test cricket. 

Virat Kohli vs Jason Holder: 144 balls, 69 runs, 2 dismissals


2) Kraigg Brathwaite vs Mohammed Siraj

image-ljvdar15Brathwaite will lead West Indies in the series [Source: Twitter]

Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite will play a vital role for West Indies, as he has been in sublime form in the purest format of late. Known for his gritty batting, Brathwaite was West Indies' go-to man with the bat in their recent Test tours. His battle with Mohammed Siraj will be worth-watching, considering the Indian seamer's skillset and sheer competitiveness. 


3) Rohit Sharma vs Alzarri Joseph

While Rohit Sharma loves to play shots using the bowlers' pace, Alzarri Joseph could be a tricky customer for him, as he brings movement at sear pace into the table. A crafty hit the deck bowler, Joseph has been impressive with the ball recently and has dismissed Sharma once in Test cricket. 

Rohit Sharma vs Alzarri Joseph: 21 balls, 9 runs, 1 dismissal


4) Tagenarine Chanderpaul vs Jaydev Unadkat

In his brief international career, Tagenarine Chanderpaul has grabbed a million eyeballs, playing some gutsy knocks against quality attacks. However, the promising opener possesses a mediocre record against left-arm seamers, suggesting his vulnerability against India's lone pacer of the same type, Jaydev Unadkat. 

Tagenarine Chanderpaul vs Left-arm seamers: 68 runs, 4 dismissals, average- 17


5) Ajinkya Rahane vs Shannon Gabriel

image-ljvd1qi9Ajinkya Rahane will bat at number 5 for India [Source: Twitter]

The tale of Ajinkya Rahane's comeback to the Indian team is nothing short of inspirational. After being recalled, the seasoned campaigner had an instant impact, slamming two impressive knocks in the second WTC final, which India lost comprehensively to the eventual champions, Australia. 

However, Shannon Gabriel is someone who has challenged Rahane in the past, although the batter holds a solid record against the Caribbean speedster. 

Ajinkya Rahane vs Shannon Gabriel: 191 balls, 110 runs, 2 dismissals