WI vs IND | 5 Indian Players To Watch Out For
Sanju Samson has received an ODI recall [Source: Twitter]
After the World Test Championship final debacle, Indian cricket is getting ready to rise from the ashes. The first challenge in the path of Rohit Sharma's men to resurgence won't be a cakewalk, as they will cross swords against a spirited West Indies side across formats in their backyard.
Meanwhile, the BCCI has already named two robust Indian squads to take on the Caribbean men in Tests and ODIs. While the ODI squad comprises familiar names, the Test team sees a few old horses being replaced with some fresh faces. As team India gears up for the Caribbean challenge, let's find out who will be the five players to watch out for on this tour.
5) Sanju Samson
Whenever an Indian white-ball team is selected, Sanju Samson's name starts trending on social media. From pure observation, we can say a majority of the Indian public celebrates Samson's inclusion and wants the team management to give him ample opportunity in ODIs and T20Is.
In his topsy-turvy international career, Samson has managed impressive stats in ODIs, amassing 330 runs in ten outings at an average of 66 and a strike rate of 104.76. However, despite proving his worth with the bat, the stylish Kerala batter had fallen off the selectors' radar due to the Indian management's adamance of developing the dynamic Suryakumar Yadav into an all-format run machine.
But with Yadav finding ODI cricket a tough nut to crack and Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer nursing their respective injuries, India have gone back to Samson. So, it's high time he grabs this golden opportunity with both hands and cements his spot in the ODI team.
4) Jaydev Unadkat
Unadkat is expected to feature in all matches [Source: Twitter]
It has been almost thirteen years since Jaydev Unadkat made his red-ball debut for India, but it took him more than a decade to play the second Test of his career after years of hard work. But after playing a solitary Test against Bangladesh, the left-arm seamer from Saurashtra warmed the bench due to the presence of first-choice seamers- Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav.
However, as India decided to rest Shami from the entire West Indies tour, Unadkat seems to be a certain starter in both formats. While he will likely be sacrificed once Shami and Bumrah join the ODI team, he has a great chance to rejuvenate his Test career with India moving on from Umesh Yadav. So, it will be interesting to see if he lives up to the expectations and fulfils India's quest for a potent left-arm seamer.
3) Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been off-colour in Tests of late [Source: AP]
Hailed as the King, Virat Kohli has been an extraordinary performer for India across formats over the years. In 109 Tests, the talismanic batter has amassed 8479 runs, including 28 centuries, at a superb average of 48.73.
But a three-year-long rough patch has certainly put serious question marks on his place in the Test squad. Furthermore, with the wind of transition blowing, Kohli needs to let his bat do the talking and silence his critics, something he has done plenty of times in the past.
2) Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane is the vice-captain of the Indian Test side [Source: AP]
The return of Ajinkya Rahane to the Indian Test side is nothing short of a fairytale. A few months ago, he was a forgotten name nowhere close to the national setup. But a superb domestic performance followed by an incredible IPL 2023 saw him edge past emerging players and earn a recall into the Test squad.
If this wasn't enough, Rahane impressed everyone with consecutive impactful knocks in the WTC final, eventually being reinstated as the vice-captain of the Test team. With Rohit Sharma struggling with his fitness, we might even see the stylish batter leading India in some series in the latter half of the WTC 2023-25.
But on the contrary, if his performance dips, he might again find himself out of the scheme of things. Rahane's bizarre situation makes him a player to watch out for on the Caribbean tour.
1) Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal had a stellar IPL 2023 [Source: Twitter]
As a player who can be an answer to India's multiple dilemmas, Yashasvi Jaiswal is the most exciting prospect to watch out for on the West Indies tour. A blockbuster domestic season followed by a spectacular IPL 2023 helped him get into the national Test side, with India moving on from their modern-day wall, Cheteshwar Pujara.
As Jaiswal was picked earlier for the WTC final, he is ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the race to be Pujara's successor. Whether he opens or bats at number three, we expect him to begin his international career with a bang, considering his immense potential.
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