India Tour Of West Indies: Players Who Were Dropped From ODI, Test Squads

23.06.2023 - 11:51 sports.ndtv.com

Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav were the big names missing from the Indian cricket team Test squad which will be travelling to West Indies in July.

Pujara had a disappointing outing at the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia while the decision to pick Umesh over veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was met with a lot of criticism.

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was also rested for the series with Navdeep Saini getting a call-up. In the pace department, Jaydev Unadkat kept his spot while Delhi Capitals pacer Mukesh Kumar received his maiden India call-up.

When it comes to batters, Yashasvi Jaiswal was rewarded for his stunning performance in this year's Indian Premier League as he was included in the Test squad.

cricket India Cricket Team Test Rohit Sharma Ruturaj Gaikwad Yashasvi Jaiswal Ajinkya Rahane Cheteshwar Pujara Umesh Yadav Australia India Delhi Chennai Sanju

Another masterful performance from off-spinner Ravi Ashwin saw him pick up five wickets and put India in control after Day 1 of the first Test against the West Indies in Dominica on Wednesday. Ashwin, surprisingly left out of the World Test Championship that India lost to Australia, took 5-60 including the key wickets of captain Kraigg Brathwaite (20) and top scorer Alick Athanaze (47).

Ashwin wrecks Windies as India dominate opening day

India are on course for a significant first-innings lead after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 5-60 to bundle out West Indies for only 150 runs on the opening day of the first test at Windsor Park in Roseau on Wednesday.

West Indies vs India, 1st Test, Day 1: Ravichandran Ashwin Registers Five-Wicket Haul As India Dominate West Indies

Nursing a bruised ego after WTC final snub last month, Ravichandran Ashwin made the best possible comeback as his 33rd five-wicket haul put India in the driver's seat against a below-par West Indies on the first day of the opening Test, in Dominica on Wednesday. Ashwin justified his top billing in ICC Test bowlers' ranking with figures of 5 for 60 in 24.3 overs to decimate West Indies for a lowly 150 in 64.3 overs with Ravindra Jadeja (3/26 in 14 overs) beautifully complementing him to make life miserable for the home team batters.

What Shubman Gill Told Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid About Batting At No. 3 vs West Indies, Star Reveals

India batter Shubman Gill doesn't see the role of a number three much different to of an opener after deciding to bat lower down the order. Gill would fill the big shoes of Cheteshwar Pujara at number three, starting with the two Test series against the West Indies. Debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal has been tasked to open alongside Rohit Sharma in the series opener. "They (Team management) asked me where I wanted to bat, and I said I wanted No. 3. It is a position where I want to consolidate," Gill told host broadcasters ahead of the opening Test here.

Watch: Virat Kohli Gives Autographs, Gets Clicked With Budding Cricketers In West Indies

The Indian cricket team is currently in the West Indies for its series in the Caribbean. They are set to play two Test matches, a three-match ODI series and five T20Is. The tour will kick off with a Test match at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica. This will be the first game for the Indian cricket team since the World Test Championship final against Australia that concluded on June 11. The Rohit Sharma-led side is currently in Dominica preparing for the first Test against West Indies that will kick off on July 12.

"Firstly, I Want Everyone To...": Rohit Sharma's Counter On India's Successive WTC Final Failure

The Indian cricket team might be a powerhouse in world cricket but its inability to go the distance in ICC events is hurting even the most ardent of fanbases. As the Indian team begins a new cycle of the World Test Championship with a 2-match series against West Indies, skipper Rohit Sharma was asked to pick that 'one thing' that he feels the team has been missing, in pursuit of the most coveted titles. For Rohit, it was the availability of players.