Virat Kohli has set high standards as a batsman and it will be best for the visitors’ batsmen to watch Kohli’s batting videos. In the past too, opposition players have admitted that they have learnt a lot from Kohli and it is high time that the Caribbean players follow suit
Hyderabad: It was all one-way traffic at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium as India annihilated the West Indies by an innings and 272 runs in three days in the first Test in Rajkot on Saturday.
India were expected to dominate in home conditions and they showed it again. But the opposition surrendered without a fight, which disappointed many.
Also read: 5 positives for India from Rajkot Test
With the hosts 1-0 up in the two-Test rubber, here are five things which the Windies need to do to put up a better show in the second game starting in Hyderabad on October 12.
The way West Indies batsmen played in the second innings of the Test, it appeared like they were in a hurry to close out the game. Inexplicably, they went for big shots without focusing on spending time at the crease. On the third day of the Test, 14 West Indies wickets fell, ending the contest quickly in favour of the Virat Kohli-led side. India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin too was surprised by their approach as he said, “I generally believe that in the second innings, the teams put up a better fight and there are a couple of partnerships here and there usually. There was one. This wicket was slightly better, it still is, hence I was surprised, shocked is the wrong word with the amount of attacking shots, the high risk shots that were played against the spinners. Maybe it was their strategy against the spinners but it clearly didn't work this time.” In the next match, hope they show respect to Test cricket and not surrender meekly. West Indies batted 48 overs (181 all out) in the first innings and 50.5 (196 all out) in the second.
If the Windies batsmen need to learn for Hyderabad Test, they just need to look at how Kohli batted in Rajkot and constructed a century. There is a lot to learn from the Indian skipper. He has set high standards as a batsman and it will be best for the visitors’ batsmen to watch Kohli’s batting videos. In the past too, opposition players have admitted that they have learnt a lot from Kohli and it is high time that the Caribbean players follow suit.
West Indies coach Stuart Law has resigned and he will quit his position after the ongoing Indian tour and the next assignment which is in Bangladesh. After the sorry story in Rajkot, the Australian would have definitely had some tough words to say to his players. And now, they have to pick themselves up and make sure that they think of giving a good farewell to the coach. A victory will be a nice gift for Law, but it will be tough. Even a draw will be like a win for the visitors.
Brathwaite, who was the stand-in captain of the West Indies in the absence of the injured Jason Holder, needs to score big in Hyderabad. He failed with the bat with scores of 2 and 10. With Holder still not fully recovered from his injury, the right-handed opener might be handed the captaincy again. If he gets that chance, he needs to lead from the front. His 50-Test experience is vital for the team.
India’s spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav shared all the 10 wickets in the second innings in Rajkot. Kuldeep was the pick of the bowlers with his maiden five-wicket haul. Just like the Indian tweakers, the vistiors’ spin duo of Devendra Bishoo and Roston Chase will have to step up in Hyderabad. They would be required to do the bulk of the bowling and ensure that they deliver. In Rajkot, Bishoo bowled 54 overs, conceding 217 runs for four scalps. Chase went for 5.26 runs per over, giving away 137 in 26. They both have to tie down the Indian batsmen and not leak runs. Building pressure is the key and that will result in wickets.
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