IND vs WI 1st Test, predicted playing XI: Likely debut for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan, Saini to return

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The first Test between India and West Indies is set to kick off in Dominica from Wednesday, July 12. The match will be India's first in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.

Post India's defeat in the WTC 2023 final, Cheteshwar Pujara is the only casualty among the seniors in the Indian Test team. Mohammed Shami has been rested, while the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mukesh Kumar have been added to the main squad for the first time. Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini has also made a return to the Indian Test team.

Once again, selecting the India playing eleven would give some headache to the captain, coach and the management. India played a 2-day practice match in Barbados and the proceedings there have hinted towards a Yashasvi Jaiswal Test debut.

The 21-year-old opened alongside Rohit Sharma and hit a blazing fifty. Shubman Gill, who has opened with Rohit lately, walked in to bat at three. It's almost certain that Rohit, Jaiswal and Gill will form the top-three of the India playing 11. In this case, Rururaj Gaikwad will have to wait for his Test debut.

Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane are also certain of holding their number four and number five spots respectively.

IND vs WI 1st Test: KS Bharat or Ishan Kishan?

KS Bharat has carried an edge over Ishan Kishan because of better wicket-keeping skills but the management would be tempted to give the latter a chance. Bharat played all the four Test matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and featured in the WTC final as well.

Bharat has failed to impress with the bat. In the practice match, he stood on the crease for 63 balls and scored nine runs only. Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, scored 26 off 50 balls. Chances of Kishan getting a nod are bright this time.

Jadeja and Ashwin likely to play together

Further, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are set to play together. Both add to the batting depth of the team and their spin bowling will suit the West Indies conditions. In case the manegement opts to give Jadeja a break, Axar Patel is there as the perfect like-to-like replacement.

Pace department conundrum

The addition of Shardul Thakur in the playing eleven will add further to India's batting depth but with Jadeja and Ashwin already in the squad, India are already more than covered in that department.

The same allows to play with three specialist pacers. Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Siraj could be joined by Navdeep Saini for his raw pace. Saini also looked impressive during the warm-up game and bowled in both the innings.

India predicted XI for 1st Test vs West Indies: Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja/Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj

India full squad for WI Test series: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.