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Journalism of Courage
In a quick turnaround from their Asia Cup 2025 victory in Dubai, India will mark the start of the 2025-26 home season with the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Playing their first home Test series since a landmark 0-3 whitewash series defeat to New Zealand last year, India captain Shubman Gill had hinted at a changing nature of pitch conditions, enabling better performances from the batters in a move away from spin-friendly strips.
South Africa batting legend AB de Villiers has since picked up the key battles awaiting both India and West Indies in the two-match series where the second Test has been allotted to the high-scoring venue in Delhi next week.
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Highlighting both captains, Shubman Gill and Roston Chase, de Villiers explained the different key aspects that could prove to be decisive in the series.
“The big battle I want to say will be between Shubman Gill and Kraigg Brathwaite (not in WI squad), who are the two stalwarts for the big teams, going against each other. Playing over in India, it’s never easy to bat guys, when you get yourself in, you really got to cash in and make it work, and I think that will be the focus for team West Indies because they know if they can get runs on the board, they can compete,” de Villiers said on YouTube.
“If the batters don’t perform over there, you might as well pack your bags and go home because the Indian bowling attack will take wickets, and they will put you under pressure. So, if you get those partnerships going, get the runs on the board to give your bowlers an opportunity to carry those catches around the bat, that is the name of the game for the spinners. Over there in India, you need to have your catches in place. That is the name of the game for the spinners over there in India, you need to have your catches in place,” de Villiers added.
de Villiers urged West Indies to review the success of the Kiwis in India last year and said the triumph could offer an access to the chinks in the host’s armour. The Proteas legend also observed finger spinners who can bowl wicket-to-wicket lines can reap rewards in India.
“I remember last time this or this time of the year, last year, that is when New Zealand thrashed India 3-0 in a Test series. So, the Windies will maybe take a little bit of confidence from that. No one thought that India was beatable in India over the last 10-12 years, right?”“They’ve been sort of invincible to certain extent, and New Zealand changed that, and maybe if West Indies analyse that very well, that will figure out a couple of areas of weakness that they can focus on. Finger spinners do exceptionally well there. I think that will be a big focus for the West Indies. They’ve got Roston Chase and a few others.”
