Yashasvi Jaiswal shines, Ishan Kishan and Mukesh Kumar made their mark as the transition starts smoothly

Yashasvi Jaiswal

Jaiswal has made an excellent start to his career; his temperament and defensive technique with the bat looked top-notch whilst facing seasoned bowlers like Kemar Roach and Jason Holder. He was willing to leave the balls outside the off-stump when they were not in his zone but he also showed an appetite to score big when he got himself in.

Jaiswal had the patience to grind out a mammoth 171 in his debut game on a wicket which was on the slower side. When conditions were better for batting in the second Test in Trinidad he scored at a brisk pace and slammed a half-century in the first innings showing he can play at different gears according to the team’s needs and pitches on offer.

यशस्वी भवः 💯
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Shubman Gill

Rohit would say that Gill had volunteered to bat at No.3 position. However, it hasn’t been fruitful for Gill. The openers had got good starts, ensuring he wasn’t exposed to the new ball too early but he failed to cash in.

His dismissal in the first innings of the second Test raised a few questions about his technique. He hung his bat outside the off-stump to Kemar Roach with no foot movement. He got the outside edge and was caught by the keeper. It’s been an old problem; the weight transfer on to the front foot hasn’t always been smooth with him, and he can often play away from the body. And he has had troubles not just with the moving ball in overseas conditions but even in India against bowlers like James Anderson and New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson.

India’s Shubman Gill plays a shot against West Indies on day one of their second cricket Test match at Queen’s Park in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Thursday, July 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

18 Test matches into his career, Gill only averages 32.2. Though he looked better in the second innings of the second Test the circumstances were different as India was way ahead of the game and was trying to score quick runs.

Ajinkya Rahane

Reinstated as the vice-captain of the side, Rahane could not make an impression in either of the Test matches, unable to reach double digits on both occasions. The question remains if a youngster could have been given an opportunity in place of the 35-year-old.

While we wait for the rain to stop in Port of Spain, here’s a stunner from Ajinkya Rahane from yesterday
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Though Rahane was the best batter in the WTC final for India the problem of inconsistency seems to still remain. With age not on his side and the selectors looking to move forward, Rahane might be the next to be axed after Cheteshwar Pujara.

Ishan Kishan

It has been a decent series for the pocket-size dynamo. He was chirpy behind the stumps throughout the two Tests and did well in taking his chances as well behind the stumps. On a slow surface in Dominica which was playing a few tricks, he kept well to the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

RP ka bat. RP jaisi batting!
Ishan Kishan 🤝 Rishabh Pant
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— FanCode (@FanCode) July 24, 2023

With the bat when the team needed to score quick runs in the second innings of Trinidad he came in at four and did the job. His first innings dismissal might raise a few questions when he played a nothing shot by fishing a ball way outside the off-stump of Jason Holder. All in all, though, an ideal start for his Test career given the opposition and circumstances.

Jaydev Unadkat

It has been a disappointing two games for the left-arm seamer. The seasoned domestic bowler with loads of wickets and experience under his belt failed to pick up a single wicket in both games. Though he bowled economically he seemed to lack the oomph to get through the defences of the West Indian batters. This was Unadkat’s opportunity to shine against a fragile batting line-up and keep his place in the side but he failed.

India’s bowler Jaydev Unadkat stretches between deliveries against West Indies on day two of their second cricket Test match at Queen’s Park in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Friday, July 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Although he had tough circumstances in the first Test when the surface was assisting spinners, he needed to make his mark in the second Test. In the second innings in Trinidad, he was deprived of the new ball. Debutant Mukesh Kumar was preferred to the left-arm seamer. With Jasprit Bumrah on his way to returning to full fitness, and age not on his side similar to Rahane, the chances for Unadkat are looking dim.

Mukesh Kumar

The Bengal pacer made his debut in Trinidad, picking up his first wicket when fellow debutante Kirk McKenzie nicked one to Ishan Kishan. He scalped two wickets in the first innings and looked threatening in the second innings too. If not for the washout of the entire final day he might have added further to his tally.

Mukesh Kumar’s maiden Test wicket! A moment for him to savour. A video for you to savour. #INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/fpCQSf1LsF

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Mukesh’s discipline to land the ball in the same area time and again choked the West Indian batsmen. Though he was on debut at no point in his spell he released the pressure created by the other bowlers. He along with Jaiswal are two big positives for India coming out of this series.