West Indies vs India 2023: 1st Test Final Playing 11 for Both Teams

Rohit Sharma and Kraig Brathwaite to lead as we look at the confirmed best playing 11 for India vs West Indies 1st Test match 2023.

1st Test Official Playing 11 for Both Teams as Announced on July 12, 7 pm IST:

India Playing 11:
Rohit Sharma [c], Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat [wk], Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat & Mohammed Siraj

West Indies Playing 11:
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymond Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Rahkeem Cornwall, Jason Holder, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph & Kemar Roach 

Best Predicted 11

It’s finally time for Team India to begin their first International tour after IPL 2023, and also to kick-start their WTC 2023-25 cycle. The Indian team begin their campaign with the West Indies tour with 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 5 T20Is lined-up. But the first of the lot is the Test series which has two Tests in place starting July 12. Meanwhile, as predicted by leading website Betway, India are favourites to win the 1st Test match with odds at 1.13. 

This will be the 13th time India will be touring West Indies for a Test series. While India have won 5 times, West Indies have won 7 times. However, the scenario changes slightly if we consider for the 21st Century. Since 2000, India have 4 Test series, while losing only 1. Similarly, India have won 7 Tests since 2000, while losing only 2. In comparison, India have won only 9 Tests overall, while losing 16.

Nevertheless, Team India will be with a slightly revamped squad for the West Indies Test series as few of their key players are injured or rested, while a few first-choice players are dropped. So, what’s the best playing 11 for India vs West Indies 2023 1st Test match? Well, before we get to that, let’s look at the key match details and official squad for both teams.

Match Details:

Tournament: India Tour of West Indies 2023

Type: 1st Test Match

Where: Dominica, West Indies

When: July 12-16, 7:30 am IST start

West Indies vs India 2023 – Official Test Squad List for Team India:

Batters: Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli & Yashasvi Jaiswal

WKs: Ishan Kishan & KS Bharat

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja & Shardul Thakur

Bowlers: Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar & Navdeep Saini

Team India’s Best Predicted Playing 11

Batters: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli & Ajinkya Rahane

The absence of Cheteshwar Pujara in the top-order means we should see one of Yashasvi Jaiswal or Ruturaj Gaikwad making his Test debut for Team India. But who opens alongside Rohit Sharma is the big question. While Shubman Gill has been a regular opener for Team India, Yashasvi Jaiswal is a left-hander, and that may give him a good advantage as an opener.

When Team India played the practice match ahead of the first Test match, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma opened for India, while Shubman Gill player at number 3. If we take that as a cue, we should see Rohit and Yashasvi opening for the first Test match with Shubman Gill donning a new role at the number 3 position. 

The numbers 4 and 5 should see the regular starters in the form of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. Important to note, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have contrasting results in Tests in West Indies. While Rahane average over 100, Kohli averages 36. However, Kohli will have to ignore his past performance, and focus on getting better results for this tour.

Wicket-keeper: KS Bharat

The selection of the wicket-keeper will again be an interesting choice of option. KS Bharat has been the regular keeper for Team India in the absence of Rishabh Pant. While KS hasn’t been that impressive in the batting department, he hasn’t played much to be judged for his batting. So, expect Rohit and Co to stick to KS Bharat, at least for this series.

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin & Shardul Thakur

Coming to the all-rounders, the Dominica pitch is one of the pitches that favours spin bowling. So if not three spin all-rounders, India should definitely play both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the playing 11. Both will be able to tremendous value as a bowler as well as batter. In addition, they will also have Shardul Thakur as an attacking batter at 9, which should ease a lot of pressure. 

Pacers: Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat & Mohammed Siraj  

Coming to the bowlers, India shall be without Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, both of whom played in the World Test Championship final. This gives an opportunity to two new bowlers in the squad. While Ashwin has filled one position, we should see one of Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini, or Mukesh Kumar filling the other position. 

If Shardul Thakur is considered as one of the pacers, which he should be, India are most-likely to go with the left-arm pace of Unadkat, who was also a part of WTC Final Squad, while Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini weren’t. However, there could also be a scenario where India debut with Mukesh Kumar, and Ravichandran Ashwin is left out. But that scenario looks unlikely.

West Indies vs India 2023 – 1st Test Match Best Predicted Playing 11 for Team India:

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat & Mohammed Siraj  

WI vs India 2023: Official 1st Test Squad List for West Indies

Batters: Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Kirk McKenzie, Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Wks: Joshua Da Silva

All-rounders: Alick Athanaze, Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall & Raymon Reifer

Bowlers: Alzarri Joseph, Jomel Warrican, Kemar Roach & Shannon Gabriel,

West Indies’ Best Predicted Playing 11

For West Indies, the team will be with a lot of new names in their playing 11. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite should open the batting with Tagenarine Chanderpaul. Whereas Raymond Riefer, Jermaine Blackwood, and Kirk McKenzie should follow them. For the wicket-keeper, Joshua De Silva remains the best option for West Indies.

Meanwhile, given the spin-friendly conditions, Raheem Cornwall should get an opportunity as the spin-bowling all-rounder. Whereas the overall bowling attack should comprise of pace all-rounder Jason Holder, pacers Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach, and Spinners Jomel Warrican and Rakheem Cornwall.

West Indies vs India 2023 – 1st Test Match Best Predicted Playing 11 for West Indies:

Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymond Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Kirk McKenzie, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Rahkeem Cornwall, Jason Holder, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph & Kemar Roach 

Top Fantasy Players 11 for West Indies vs India 1st Test 2023

Batters: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ajinkya Rahane, Kraigg Brathwaite

Wks: Joshua Da Silva

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin & Rakheem Cornwall

Bowlers: Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj & Shardul Thakur

CVC Choice: Ajinkya Rahane & Ravichandran Ashwin

Please check our Telegram channel for fresh Fantasy 11 updates based on Toss, ground conditions, etc. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for West Indies vs India 1st Test match 2023? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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