Pujara out? Shami, Siraj set to be rested: Major changes beckon Indian team for West Indies Tests - Report

After an underwhelming performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, Team India veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara is standing on the cusp being axed from the side, again.

SportsTak

• Thu • 15 Jun 2023

After an underwhelming performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, Team India veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara is standing on the cusp being axed from the side, again. Pujara, who has played 103 Test matches for India, received a ton of criticism not just because of his poor returns against Australia but also due to his shot selection during the WTC final. According to a report in Cricbuzz, there is a decent chance that selectors might axe Pujara from the Indian Test side for the upcoming West Indies tour.

India's next assignment is against West Indies as the team will tour for a full-fledged bilateral series. India are set to play two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is on the tour of the West Indies starting July 12 post a long break after the WTC final. The first Test of the new WTC cycle will begin on July 12 at Windsor Park, Dominica. Post the West Indies Test series, India will not play a Test match till December.

It is likely that India's frontline pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be given a much-deserved rest from the Test series against West Indies. The duo has been playing relentless cricket for the last four months and, with Asia Cup and World Cup hovering on the horizon, the selectors and the team management would want to manage their seamers' workload. In the absence of Shami and Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik are in the reckoning to be called up for the West Indies tour.

When it comes to captaincy, Rohit Sharma is certain to lead India against West Indies. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane will also be a part of the West Indies Test series.

It would be interesting to see who replaces Pujara if the veteran batter is dropped from the team. If reports are to be believed, prodigious batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is the front-runner as the left-handed willow-wielder from Mumbai has displayed pristine form in Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic cricket.