India vs West Indies, 1st Test Day 1 highlights: Rohit and Co. in driving seat after Ashwin demolishes hosts with fifer

Jasprit Bumrah's injury has hit India hard. While Mohammed Siraj has done really well, India's pace battery, all of a sudden has started to look a bit pale. Mohammed Shami is not getting any younger and that is one of he major reasons why he was given a complete break from this entire tour. But do India have the backups? Jaydev Unadkat is an old warhorse and he deserves a go. India also have young Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini in their ranks.

India's practice on the eve of the first Test was washed out due to rain but the good news is, it is bright and sunny right now at Dominica. There is a forecast for rain later in the day but fingers crossed for a full day's play. 

Here's what the experts have to say…

Aakash Chopra: Yes, they can but can they beat India? Don't think so. India start favourites and they are likely to win 2-0.

Abhinav Mukund: We tend to mix formats. They have been doing well at home in Tests so they will definitely push India but I think India will win.

Reetinder Singh Sodhi: India are far superior in all departments. So India 2-0.

The last time Virat Kohli played a Test at Windsor Park in Dominica, MS Dhoni was India's all-format captain, and current head coach Rahul Dravid, the great Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were still playing. It was also the venue after which Kohli lost his place in the Indian Test side - the only time in his career. The former India cricketer returns to the venue after 12 long years. He has achieved a lot during this time but for the last few years, his Test form hasn't been the best, he will be the first one to admit that. 

In the 30 innings that Shubman Gill has played for India, he has opened 29 times. The only time he batted at No.3 in his Test career was against New Zealand in Mumbai in 2021. The right-hander, however, is a regular at No.3 and 4 in domestic cricket for Punjab. Ahead of the 1st Test against the West Indies, Gill, who is considered the next all-format player for India, went up to head coach Rahul Dravid and requested to play him at No.3. Now that there is no Cheteshwar Pujara, Dravid had no problems in agreeing to it. As it also meant that Jaiswal, will get to bat at his preferred slot on Test debut. If Gill can make the No.3 spot his own, it can open a new chapter in not only his career but also in Indian cricket.

There was a lot of chatter around India's decision of dropping Ashwin from their XI in the WTC final. The No.1-ranked Test bowler is set to return to the India XI for the first Test against the West Indies. Captain Rohit Sharma has already confirmed that India will go in with two spinners, which means Ashwin will be partnered with Ravindra Jadeja. 

Alick Athanaze is set to make his Test debut today for the West Indies. The 24-year-old left-hander is a bright prospect and none other than Brian Lara believes so. He has a first-class average of 36 in the 30 matches that he has played and also bowls off-spin which can come in handy as the Test progresses

There are high chances that Yashasvi Jaiswal might not be India's only debutant in the 1st Test against the West Indies today. Dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan too might get his Test cap today. In the five Tests that KS Bharat has played so far, the Andra Pradesh man has done little with the bat to ooze confidence. With still no timeline on Rishabh Pant's return, this West Indies series is the ideal opportunity for the team management to check Kishan in red-ball cricket.

India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that Yashasvi Jaiswal will make his debut in the first Test and will also open the batting with him as Shubman Gill has expressed his desire of sliding down to No.3 in place of Pujara. It will be a big moment for the 21-year-old Jaiswal, who will bring in the left and right opening combination back into India's Test XI after a long time.

West Indies squad for 1st Test vs India: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.

India squad for Tests vs West Indies: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KS Bharat (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India vs West Indies 1st Test in Dominica. It is a fresh start for both the teams in what would mark the beginning of their campaigns in the third edition of the World Test Championships. India captain Rohit Sharma and West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite will be hoping to get an early lead in this short two-Test series.