AHMEDABAD, India, Oct 01 (AFP): Shubman Gill's India will be heavy favourites when they play a home two-Test series starting Thursday against a West Indies side struggling with injuries and a pale shadow of the team that once dominated cricket.
The Caribbean team have endured years of decline and their T20 team registered a new low this week with a series defeat to non-Test playing nation Nepal.
In the longest format the West Indies were swept 3-0 at home by Australia this year and were bowled out for 27 in the third match -- the second-lowest score in Test history.
The debacle prompted West Indies cricket boss Kishore Shallow to call for an emergency meeting involving past greats. West Indies, led by Roston Chase, have been forced into late changes after injuries ruled out pace bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph ahead of the first Test in Ahmedabad.
They have been replaced by the uncapped pair of seamer Johann Layne and left-arm quick Jediah Blades, who has only played white-ball cricket for the West Indies. Jayden Seales is the only pace bowler in an inexperienced attack who has played more than 10 Tests.
In contrast, India are full of confidence after securing a thrilling 2-2 draw in their five-Test series in England which ended in August.
India captain Shubman Gill said Wednesday that his team plans to grind down the opposition on turning pitches as they begin their home season with two Tests against the West Indies.
The opening Test starts Thursday at the world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, with India strong favourites for a 2-0 series win.
A young Indian team under Gill showed promise in a 2-2 draw during their five-Test series in England, which concluded in August. That series was Gill's first as captain -- and the first without greats Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have all retired. The 26-year-old said Indian pitches present a distinct challenge.
"We are looking to play some hard grinding cricket," Gill told reporters.
He pointed out that in recent years Tests in India rarely took the full five days, in contrast to England, where the Tests "went pretty deep".
But Gill said India was not "looking for any easy (way) out options" and insisted the team had "the skill-set to be able to play on any kind of wicket, or any situation."
India's ploy of offering rank turners backfired last year when New Zealand swept the hosts 3-0 in Tests.
Gill said the pitches against the West Indies would offer the teams better balance between bat and ball.
"We would be looking to play on wickets that offer both to the batsmen and to the bowlers," said Gill.
"For any team that comes to India, they know that the challenge is going to be spin and reverse swing." West Indies, led by Roston Chase, have struggled with injuries to their fast bowlers and are a shadow of the team that once dominated cricket.
