India would be reasonably pleased with the smooth start to the transition of their Test team against the West Indies, even if a 1-0 series victory against a side seven rungs below them in the official rankings may not sound impressive.
Persistent rain in Port of Spain did not allow any play on Monday, resulting in a stalemate between the sides and depriving India of a 2-0 series sweep when they needed eight wickets to win.
Smarting from their defeat, second in a row, in the World Test Championship final against Australia last month, India went to the Caribbean with a new top order, an uncapped stumper, and a rookie pace attack for the two-test series.
With Shubman Gill moving down to number three after veteran Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped, India harnessed an uncapped Yashasvi Jaiswal with skipper Rohit Sharma in a left-right opening combination.
Jaiswal smashed a match-winning 171 in his debut in Roseau and scored 57 and 38 in the drawn Test in Port of Spain making immediate impact.
Gill is yet to settle in his new position, but the team management is more than willing to be patient with a player hailed as the future of Indian cricket.
India have badly missed wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant since his horrific car crash in December but have unearthed a replica in stumper Ishan Kishan, an identical left-handed batter known for his six-hitting prowess.
While his glovework drew praise from his captain, Kishan smashed an unbeaten 52 off 34 balls in India’s second innings at Port of Spain after being promoted to number four.
“You need guys like Ishan. We wanted quick runs, we promoted him,” Rohit said.
“He wasn’t afraid, he was the first one to put his hand up.”
“You need the mixture of everything. We have depth, we have got variety, which is quite important. We are in the right place, it’s just about going and doing the right thing. I always believe in getting better as a team, no matter what the results are. Except the WTC final, we played good cricket throughout that phase. To improve in all three departments is what we want to focus on,” Rohit said.
While Jaiswal finished the series as its leading scorer, Rohit and Virat Kohli completed the top three. Of India’s old guard, only Ajinkya Rahane should worry about his Test future having managed just three and eight in his two outings in West Indies.
Rohit was particularly pleased how Mohamed Siraj led an inexperienced pace attack in the absence of a recovering Jasprit Bumrah and a rested Mohamed Shami. “I have been watching him closely,” Rohit said of the right-arm seamer who breathed fire on a docile track to claim 5-60 in West Indies’ first innings at Port of Spain.
“He’s taken such a giant step. He has led this attack (superbly).”
Indian skipper Kaur
suspended by ICC for Code of Conduct breaches
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur will miss two international matches and be fined 75% of her match fee following two breaches of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct, the sport’s governing body said yesterday.
The 34-year-old also received three demerit points on her disciplinary record after she expressed frustration over her dismissal by hitting the wickets with her bat during the third match of the Women’s Championship series against Bangladesh in Dhaka last week.
“She was found guilty of breaching article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, relating to ‘showing dissent at an umpire’s decision,’” the ICC said in a statement.
“Kaur was also fined... for a Level 1 offence relating to ‘public criticism in relation to an incident occurring in an international match’ when, during the presentation ceremony, Kaur openly criticised the umpiring in the match.”
The ICC said she admitted the offences and agreed to the sanctions proposed, due to which there will be no formal hearing.