India tour to West Indies 2023: Yashasvi will open, Gill to bat at No.3: Rohit Sharma ahead of first test in Dominica

Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India captain Rohit Sharma on Tuesday confirmed Yashasvi Jaiswal will make his debut in the first test against West Indies, which gets underway at Windsor Park from July 12. The talented batter from Mumbai will open the batting for India with his captain. Rohit also confirmed the visitors will go in with two spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

With Yashasvi opening the batting, it has resulted in Shubman Gill batting at No. 3. Gill and Rohit Sharma have been opening the batting for India for quite some time, but it will be Jaiswal who will be walking out with the India skipper to start the innings in the Caribbean.

“Indian cricket was desperately looking for a left-hander, and we have found one in Jaiswal. The left-right combination at the top will be a big advantage for us,” Rohit said on the eve of the Test.

Shubman expressed his desire to bat at No. 3 to Head Coach Rahul Dravid.

“Gill himself went to head coach Rahul Dravid and expressed a desire to bat at No.3 as he has batted in that position throughout his career,” said Rohit.

This will not be the only change as India begin their World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle after losing in the final for the second successive time. Mohammed Siraj will be leading the pace attack, with Jasprit Bumrah out injured and Mohammed Shami rested. Shardul Thakur and Jayde Unadkat are likely to be the remaining two pacers.

“The pitches here are conducive to pace bowling, so we will go with a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners,” Sharma said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a long line of pacers at the moment, as many of them are nursing injuries. That’s why many of our experienced bowlers couldn’t come on this tour.”

Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India captain Rohit Sharma on Tuesday confirmed Yashasvi Jaiswal will make his debut in the first test against West Indies, which gets underway at Windsor Park from July 12. The talented batter from Mumbai will open the batting for India with his captain. Rohit also confirmed the visitors will go in with two spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Also Read: Shubman Gill’s big decision to bat at No. 3 in the interest of team | WIvsIND

With Yashasvi opening the batting, it has resulted in Shubman Gill batting at No. 3. Gill and Rohit Sharma have been opening the batting for India for quite some time, but it will be Jaiswal who will be walking out with the India skipper to start the innings in the Caribbean.

“Indian cricket was desperately looking for a left-hander, and we have found one in Jaiswal. The left-right combination at the top will be a big advantage for us,” Rohit said on the eve of the Test.

Shubman expressed his desire to bat at No. 3 to Head Coach Rahul Dravid.

“Gill himself went to head coach Rahul Dravid and expressed a desire to bat at No.3 as he has batted in that position throughout his career,” said Rohit.

This will not be the only change as India begin their World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle after losing in the final for the second successive time. Mohammed Siraj will be leading the pace attack, with Jasprit Bumrah out injured and Mohammed Shami rested. Shardul Thakur and Jayde Unadkat are likely to be the remaining two pacers.

“The pitches here are conducive to pace bowling, so we will go with a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners,” Sharma said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a long line of pacers at the moment, as many of them are nursing injuries. That’s why many of our experienced bowlers couldn’t come on this tour.”