India will open their ICC World Test Championship campaign by taking on West Indies in the first of the 2-match series at the Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. India will start as firm favourites to win the series considering their recent track record in the longer format of the game which has seen them rise to the Number One position in the ICC Test rankings.

West Indies on the other hand are languishing at the bottom of the points table. India has had the measure of the Caribbean side in the recent bilateral series played between the two nations . The Windies haven't beaten India in Test, both at home or away in the last 17 years.

With both teams playing their first series under the newly conceptualized ICC World Test Championships, there will be a lot a stake when the two teams battle it out on the green turf.

The Indians would love to carry their spectacular winning form from the ODI and T20 series into the Test series and cement their place at the Top of the Test rankings.

The Indian would be bolstered by the return of their Test Specialist Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who will add impetus to the middle order. Meanwhile skipper Virat Kohli who continues to be the lynch-pin of the middle order is nearing a couple of personal milestones.

India have a choice between Hanuma Vihari and Rohit Sharma for the Number 6 position. Indians do bat deep with a couple of all-rounders in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja who can chip in with valuable runs. Wriddhiman Saha is back into the Test fold and  would be the first choice wicket-keeper ahead of Rishabh Pant.

Spin King Ravichandran Ashwin gets back to what he does best, leading the spin attack with the red cherry for India. Ashwin would be partnered by his seasoned campaigner Ravindra Jadeja who is on the cusp of getting to 200 Test wickets. Indians also have Kuldeep Yadav in their ranks who has showed his pedigree with his skills in

The Indian pace attack looks potent with a formidable seam lineup in Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav. Jasprit Bumrah would be raring to go against Windies after missing out on the ODI series. Meanwhile seasoned campaigners Ishant and Umesh would love to use all their experience and skill with the new ball.