India vs West Indies: Mighty hosts automatic favourites for a whitewash win

India would look forward to put up another clinical performance when they face a bruised West Indies side at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.

In what can be termed as the most ludicrous of mismatches, the West Indies were absolutely blown away by the number one ranked Test team–a side that had to prove a point or two after returning home with the burden of a 1-4 Test series loss to England. For them, everything went right. From the batting department firing all guns to rack up 649 in the first innings to the bowlers taking 14 wickets on a single day to fetch India her biggest Test win so far.

Their issues with a struggling top-order was put to rest with the young Prithvi Shaw earning his maiden Test cap. Replacing Shikhar Dhawan, he came up with an effort that Dhawan would be well-aware of– a hundred on Test debut. Yet, this would rank as a tad more special, given the fact that Shaw was the youngest Indian to have achieved this historic feat and also because it capped off what can be a called a brilliant yet unfinished story of success which began when the 18-year old scored a hundred in his debut in India’s premier domestic competition–the Ranji Trophy. From there to the U-19 World cup win in New Zealand to the IPL to the Indian A squad and finally a hundred on Test debut. Talk of a great ending, ushering in a new beginning!

Also Read: India vs West Indies: Virat Kohli could equal Inzamam-ul Haq in centuries

While the picture is all about confidence and happiness in the Indian dug-out, the scenes in the West Indian camp is nothing but of sadness and gloom. With head coach Stuart Law set to resign at the end of this year, the levels of self-belief undoubtedly are low and this shows in their performance.

Having been at the losing end of a Test match in India isn’t something new to them. They had done it in 2013 in the ‘farewell’ series of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and five years hence, we are looking at the same picture once again.

Such is their state that West Indies skipper Jason Holder has had to cite incidents from the past when a team with someone like Brain alarm Brian Lara couldn’t upstage the Indians in their backyard–all this, just to justify their woeful decline in international cricket.

Also Read: No Mayank Agarwal for the second Test match against West Indies

In Hyderabad, they would try and prove a point or two, despite the scenes of them drawing the series is highly unlikely against a well-oiled unit like India.

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, would want his side to not lose out on intensity and passion when they take on the Caribbean side in Hyderabad.

While another West Indian loss would add to their slump in international cricket, another emphatic win would do just fine for the hosts who are looking at the thing from a preparatory angle before the highly anticipated tour of Australia later this year.

Image Source: Mykhel