Windsor Park Stadium. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Both India and West Indies will kick-start their WTC 2023-25 campaign in a two-match Test Series starting from July 12, 2023, at Windsor Park in Roseau, St. Dominica.
West Indies will be coming into the contest, after a shocking exit from ICC World Cup 2023 due to very poor performances both with bat and ball in the qualifiers, they would look to erase the past and start fresh in the series. Rakheem Cornwall has earned a call-up after two years and is expected to be in the part of playing XI. Since 2022, Kraigg Brathwaite holds the key for West Indies in Tests with an aggregate of 947 runs in 21 innings at an average of 52.61, while in the bowling department, Alzarri Joseph has been brilliant with 44 scalps in 22 innings.
India, on the other hand, will be heading into the series on the back of a loss in the final against Australia in WTC 2021-23. Ajinkya Rahane was the only batter to have aggregated more than 100 in the finals for India, he scored 135 runs in two innings averaging 67.5.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal have earned maiden call-up for the Test Squad, whereby, Jaiswal is expected to take up the role of Cheteshwar Pujara at number three, while Mukesh Kumar might get a nod as a third seamer in the first game. Mohammed Shami has been rested to manage the workload before the mega event, hence Mohammed Siraj is expected to spearhead the pace attack. India would look to start the WTC 2023-25 cycle on a winning note
West Indies vs India Head-to-Head records
In a total of 98 games played between the two teams, West Indies dominate the contest with 30 wins over India’s 22 wins, while 46 games have ended in a draw. In West Indies, both have faced each other on 51 occasions with India winning 9 games and losing 16 games, 26 matches have ended in a draw.
Matches Played
West Indies
India
Draw
98
30
22
46
Test Records and Stats at Windsor Park
Spinners have enjoyed bowling at this venue, in 5 games played here the spinners have taken 87 wickets at an average of 23.35 while pace bowlers have taken 80 wickets at an average of 28.45. Both teams batting first and second have won two games each and one game has ended in a draw. The average first innings score at this venue is 246.20.
Matches Played
5
Teams Won Batting First
2
Teams Won Chasing
2
Draw
1
Average First Batting Score
246.2
West Indies vs India, the Battleground
Jason Holder has picked Virat Kohli twice in 144 balls while giving away 69 runs at an average of 34.50. Shannon Gabriel has picked both Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane twice in 131 and 191 balls, while he has given 75 and 110 runs, respectively. Ravichandran Ashwin holds the key for India, as he has picked Kraigg Brathwaite four times in 334 balls, while giving away 122 runs and against Jermaine Blackwood, Ashwin has 3 wickets in 54 balls. Ashwin has also got good match-ups against Jason Holder, picking him twice in 89 balls, while giving away 51 runs.
Highest and Lowest Totals
West Indies’ (WI):
Highest total against India in Test is 644 while their lowest total is 100
India’s (IND):
Highest total against West Indies is 649 while their lowest total is 75.
Top Players to Watch Out For:
India: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Tagenarine Chanderpaul
West Indies vs India Full Squads
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Joshua Da Silva (WK), Alick Athanaze,
Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach,
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican.