India announces 12-member team for first Test match against Windies, Prithvi Shaw likely to debut
Rajkot, Oct 3 (IBNS): India's boy wonder Prithvi Shaw is likely to make his Test debut against the Windies as the former's team management named a 12-member team, on the eve of the encounter.
While Shaw found his name on the list, it excluded Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal.
Agarwal, who has been in red-hot form in domestic cricket, will have to wait longer for his chance, while Vihari, who made a name for himself after scoring a gritty half-century in the maiden Test innings of his career, has been made to sit out.
The 12 members are: Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Md. Shami, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur.
The management has said that going forward, this will be the norm- the captain declaring the 12 members who will take part in the Test match- following the official press conference.
India's skipper Virat Kohli, who is coming back into the fold after being rested in the Asia Cup, which India won, said that the youngsters- the likes of Hanuma Vihari, Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal- should look at these chances as opportunities rather than feeling the pressure.
"Someone like Hanuma Vihari, Prithvi Shaw or Mayank Agrawal have been brought in because they have done well in domestic circuit consistently. They should look at it as an opportunity and not as pressure. It is a great chance for them to cement their place and play for a long time," the Indian skipper said.
Kohli said that his team is prepared to set a benchmark and have urged the younger players to prove their worth.
"We would like to take the series as a benchmark we would like to set. With couple of new guys coming in at the top of the order, they have a chance to show the skill set they have got. I think it is a good opportunity for them," Kohli said.
India will host the Windies for a two-match test series starting from Thursday at Rajkot.
The Caribbean side will also play a 5-match ODI series and a 3-match T20I series.
Image: twitter.com/BCCI
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