West Indies’ feeble batting in focus as India chase 2-0 series win

It took India less than three days to wrap up an innings victory over West Indies in Ahmedabad, and while talk of more batting-friendly conditions in New Delhi might offer some inspiration to the struggling visitors, the odds are stacked against them heading into the second Test from October 10.

Losing the two fast bowling Josephs, Alzarri and Shamar, was no doubt a blow to West Indies before the series started. But think about it: what good could the two quicks have done to a team whose problem is batting? West Indies were bowled out for totals of 162 and 146 in Ahmedabad, which extended a sorry trend of batting performances which has seen the team skittled for less than 200 in 13 of their last 15 Test matches.

This is a team in heavy decline, and whatever the captain Roston Chase muttered about the Caribbean not having the necessary funds or infrastructure – which Brian Lara also echoed in the aftermath of the Ahmedabad defeat – it cannot mask the very clear lack of temperament in this lineup. 

Chase is 33 and has played 53 Test matches. His batting average is 25.57. Once seen as the new hero of West Indies’ batting, Shai Hope averages under 25 from 42 Tests. The rest are a mix of batsmen finding their way back in Test cricket, such as Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze, or those who have been given many chances but just cannot crack the game, like John Campbell. Brandon King is just four Tests old, but the signs are not exactly promising that he can channel his white-ball success into the five-day format. 

It is an understatement to say that Chase and his team-mates have a mountain to climb in the second Test, and tougher to envision where the resistance will come from.

India had a good workout in Ahmedabad, with a few boxes ticked. Dhruv Jurel, keeping wickets in the absence of Rishabh Pant, scored his first Test century. Kuldeep Yadav marked his comeback with four wickets. Ravindra Jadeja drew a thick red line under his allrounder credentials with an unbeaten 104 and four wickets. Mohammed Siraj took seven wickets, and it was his opening day spell that set India on their way to a huge victory.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudarshan would want some runs, and Shubman Gill not to throw away a half-century like he did in Ahmedabad. India might stick with the same team, which would be a sign of faith in Nitish Reddy and a test of Jasprit Bumrah’s resilience. 

Reddy’s only contribution to India’s win in Ahmedabad was a leaping grab at square leg to dismiss Chanderpaul. Thereon, he bowled four overs in West Indies’ first innings and did not bat, but the team appears intent on grooming the seam-bowling allrounder even though this type of cricketer has seldom been used at home. India next play Test cricket in November when South Africa arrive for two Tests, and Bumrah is not part of the ODI squad for the tour to Australia, so getting valuable overs out of him in New Delhi would be a plus. 

All told, India are outright favourites for 2-0 against a West Indies team struggling to compete.