AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss Thursday and decided to bat first in the opening cricket test against India.
will lead India for the first time on home soil — the new test skipper had previously been in in charge for a against England.
It marks the first time in 15 years that India will play a home test without , and . The trio retired over the past season — their previous appearance on home soil against New Zealand last October was a stunning 3-0 loss for India.
India has opted to go with three spinners and two pacers. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace attack, while Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar form the spin trio.
All-rounder Nitish Reddy returns after being injured during the English series. Dhruv Jurel will keep wickets in place of injured Rishabh Pant. Jadeja has been named vice-captain for this series in Pant’s absence.
For West Indies, pacers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph miss out due to injury. The visitors too have opted for a two pacer-three spinner combination, with bowling allrounder Johann Layne and left-arm spinner Kharry Pierre handed test debuts.
West Indies has not beaten India in their last 25 tests — home or away — dating to 2002.
The second test in the two-test series is set to begin Oct. 10 in New Delhi.
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Teams:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, K.L. Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
West Indies: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Brandon King, Shai Hope, Roston Chase (captain), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre, Johann Layne, Jayden Seales.
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AP cricket:
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