Mukesh Kumar [Twitter]
In a significant development, India have handed debut Test cap to promising pacer Mukesh Kumar in their ongoing fixture against hosts West Indies at Port Of Spain, Trinidad. Kumar replaces Shardul Thakur, who misses out on this game owing to fitness concerns.
Kumar, who has travelled with the national side on quite a few tours, finally gets a chance to play his first Test match. The 29-year-old has been a prolific performer for Bengal in the domestic circuit, scalping 149 wickets in 39 First-Class appearances. India have made a solitary change to their squad from the first Test, replacing Kumar with Thakur.
Meanwhile, West Indies opted to bowl first, as skipper Kraigg Brathwaite expected the Trinidad deck to assist seamers on the opening day. The hosts have made two changes, replacing Raymon Reifer and Rahkeem Cornwall with Kirk McKenzie and Shannon Gabriel, respectively.
India Playing XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat, Mukesh Kumar
West Indies Playing XI
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Alick Athanaze, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Shannon Gabriel
