WI vs IND | Without Bumrah & Shami, How Would The New Pace Trio For India Look Like?

image-ljzmbq1uRohit Sharma will have a huge headache picking his pacer for WI vs IND Tests (Twitter)

A new chapter in India's Test history is about to begin with the two-match Test series against West Indies. The hosts might not be the same old daunting Windies, but anything can happen with the Duke ball on the peppery wickets of the Caribbean. 

In the build-up to the Test series, the heart of the conversation has been the inclusion of the 21-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal. The budding Mumbai-based cricketer has smashed the selection door out of the ground to get called up into the Indian setup at a very younger age. 

Apart from Jaiswal, the gaga has been around Shubman Gill and his sacrifice to bat at number 3; however, there is no real clout related to what is going to be the fast-bowling attack. Shouldn't that be the real concern? Isn't the bowling department the main area of worry? 

India's batting still has the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane in their arsenal. Still, the fast bowlers are the ones who are thin in experience, as India's most adroit pacer is the 19-Test-old Mohammed Siraj.

Tinkering on that thought, how could India's fast-bowling lineup look in the first Test match against West Indies at Dominica's Windsor Park. 


1) Mohammed Siraj

In Jasprit Bumrah's absence, Siraj has emerged as India's go-to fast bowler across all formats of the game. Prior to the series, it was said that the 29-year-old's workload would be managed carefully, both in Tests and ODIs. Although considering the inexperience in the current Test squad, Siraj would have to play at least at Dominica.

The seamer has had a prolific rise in the last couple of seasons, and he could have Bumrah-esque outings like the senior-pro had the last time Indian toured the Islands.


2) Mukesh Kumar

image-ljzm0lw8Mukesh Kumar in Indian nets before 1st Test vs WI (Twitter)

The rise of Mukesh Kumar into the Indian setup has been unreal. It has been just like Jaiswal's. Mukesh, apart from Shubman Gill, is the lone man who has been selected for all three formats on this West Indies tour.

The Delhi Capitals pacer may not have had an blazing IPL season, but his first-class stats are dazzling. In 39 Ranji matches, the Bengal paceman has snapped 149 wickets at an average of 21.55, with a strike rate of 47.7 -- that too on Indian pitches. 

Mukesh has the art in his hand to move the ball both ways, and he can become a brilliant asset for India in the longest format if handled well. 


3) Navdeep Saini

The final toss would be between Navdeep Saini and Jaydev Unadkat, and the former would get the nod ahead by a whisker. Considering that Saini is the only hit-the-deck bowler, who will be best suited on the Caribbean pitches, can get a ticket into the playing XI.

Keeping in mind that India will bat till number eight, Shardul Thakur may get out of favours as the Rohit Sharma-led unit would be eager to play three out-and-out seamers alongside two spinners - Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.