NEW DELHI: India handed debut caps to young sensation
Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicket-keeper batsman
Ishan Kishan as West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and opted to bat in the opening Test of the
two-match series against India on Wednesday.
" We have been here for a while, played a practice game in Barbados, here in Dominica for the last 4 days, rain did have a say, but we're well prepared. The championship cycle final is two years away, but we've been consistent over the last couple of cycles," India captain Rohit Sharma during the toss.
"New guys in the squad, we just want to keep better as a team. I want the two debutants to enjoy, they've worked hard to come here, I want to make them feel comfortable and have some good memories of their first Test," he further said.
For Windies, local man Alick Athanaze will play his maiden Test for the home team.
"We are batting first, the surface is generally dry, bit of moisture, we'll have to work hard in the first hour. We had a 10-day camp, Brian Lara was there as well, had a practice game amongst ourselves, looking good," WI skipper Brathwaite said.
"We have been in good positions during the last cycle, but it's all about being consistent. Want to see the guys be positive.
Athanaze is making his debut, Cornwall and Warrican are the two spinners, Kirk McKenzie and Shannon Gabriel miss out," the 30-year-old said.
Playing XIs:India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva (w), Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.