India aim to extend domination against inexperienced West Indies

Kingston, July 29 (IANS) On a high after a thumping win in the series opener, India will aim to extend their winning run when they take on hosts West Indies in the second of the four-match Test series starting at the Sabina Park here on Saturday.

India recorded their biggest win outside the subcontinent by beating the West Indies by an innings and 92 runs in the first Test at the Sir Viv Richards stadium in Antigua.

Skipper Virat Kohli smashed his first double ton while Ravichandran Ashwin hit a century and also claimed a match winning seven wicket haul in the second innings to dismantle the opposition batting line-up.

The visitors will look to continue and keep the winning momentum going with new head coach Anil Kumble making a dream debut.

The Kohli-led side might await a green pitch at the Sabina Park here unlike what they got in the first Test.

But India will be high on confidence with their batting and bowling both clicking in the first Test.

But there is uncertainty about the availability of opener Murali Vijay, who didn’t take the field after being hit on his thumb by pacer Shannon Gabriel on the opening day of the first game.

In case if Vijay is not declared fit for the second Test, promising youngster Lokesh Rahul might find a place in the opening slot.

It is also to be seen if Kohli goes in with five bowlers for the second Test.

Kohli might also opt to select another batsman and play four bowlers after Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were not amongst the runs in the first Test.

On a green Sabina Park pitch, pace trio Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma might cause trouble for the inexperienced Windies batting line-up.

On the other hand, West Indies have called up rookie pacer Alzarri Joseph, who is most likely to make his Test debut on Saturday.

Joseph starred with the ball in West Indies’s victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign. He claimed 13 wickets in the tournament.

In the batting line-up, a lot will depend on veteran batsman Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo to deliver for their team.

It is most likely that skipper Jason Holder will make a few changes after suffering a heavy defeat in the first match.

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.

West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Leon Johnson, Shane Dowrich (wk), Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins, Alzarri Joseph.