India vs West Indies 2nd Test Prediction

IND Team News

With one eye on the forthcoming tour of Australia, all three of KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal could be in line to start in Hyderabad as India look to give their batsmen time in the middle. That could mean Ajinkya Rahane misses out, or Rahul may have to make way to accommodate Agarwal’s debut. The bowling unit that fired so well in Rajkot is likely to be retained, however, with Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Hardik Pandya all unavailable.

IND Key Players

Virat Kohli’s 139 in the first test – the India captain’s 24th century of his test career – took him to 1018 runs in his last nine test matches, at a phenomenal average of 59.88. It followed his efforts in vain on the tour of England, during which he scored three 50s, and two 100s and 593 runs in total at an average of 59.30.

He is the experienced leader of this India team, whereas Prithvi Shaw is its newest start – the 18-year-old marking his test debut with 134 at the top of the order in Rajkot. He shared a 206-run stand for the third wicket with equally in form Cheteshwar Pujara (86) to maintain his recent first class form, which included big centuries for India A against West Indies A and South Africa A earlier in the year.

India’s batting line-up is backed by a superb bowling unit too, with Mohammed Shami having taken 33 wickets in his last nine tests, and Ravichandran Ashwin 29 in his last eight. Kuldeep Yadav has earned a test call-up too, and the mystery spinner claimed 5-57 in the second innings of the first test against West Indies.

IND Team Form

India are looking to bounce back after defeats in their last two tours, including the 4-1 thrashing in England which preceded this series. They had previously lost 2-1 in South Africa, with a one-off test victory against Afghanistan in between.

In South Africa, they were bowled out for 209 and 135 as they lost a low-scoring first test, and then fell for 151 chasing 287 to win the second test. India did hit back in the third test in Johannesburg, however, in another low scoring game. They posted 187 and 247 but won by 63 runs thanks to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s bowling.

They bounced back with their innings and 262 run win against test debutants Afghanistan – dismissing them for 109 and 103 in reply to 474 – but fell to four defeats in five games in England. A narrow defeat at Edgbaston was followed by a thrashing at Lord’s, before India hit back to win at Trent Bridge. They lost at both the Rose Bowl and the Oval, however – despite Virat Kohli being top run scorer and joint man of the series – to crash to a 4-1 defeat.

That was their last test action prior to the big win in the first test against West Indies – winning by an innings and 272 runs to improve on the Afghanistan result by ten runs.