Team India are all set to restart their next World Test Championship Cycle in 2023–25 with a two-match test series against the West Indies. The series will kick off with the first test on Wednesday, July 12, at Windsor Park in Dominica.
After losing the second consecutive WTC final, India will look to start the next cycle with a win and make their chances stronger for the third final in a row. The BCCI made some notable changes to the test squad and added some new faces to the team.
Thus, it will be interesting to see who will make it into the playing XI tomorrow. Meanwhile, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh picked his first-choice of playing XI for the first game in Dominica. He revealed his playing XI in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.
He picked a new No. 3 for India. Bhajji has said that after some consistent performances, it is time that Shubman Gill should become India’s permanent opener with Rohit Sharma. He has picked Yashasvi Jaiswal to bat at No. 3 in place of Cheteshwar Pujara.
For Nos. 4 and 5, Harbhajan Singh has picked Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane made his comeback after a 20-month gap and was India’s highest scorer in the WTC final against Australia. Bhajji picked Ravindra Jadeja as the all-rounder to bat at No. 6.
Well, one of the most debated questions is about India’s test wicketkeeper. Will it be KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan? Bhajji picked Bharat over Ishan and said if Ravichandran Ashwin is playing, then Bharat will bat at No. 8 and Ashwin at No. 7.
Notably, Mohammed Shami has been rested on this tour. It will be Mohammed Siraj who will lead India’s pace attack. Harbhajan has picked Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat, and Mukesh Kumar as India’s pace trio for the first game. Surprisingly, he didn’t pick Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel in the team.
Harbhajan Singh’s Playing XI for 1st test: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, KS Bharat (wicketkeeper), Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar
