More troubles are expected on the cards for the West Indies ahead of the second Test against India, beginning from Friday in Hyderabad. While skipper Jason holder is yet to gain 100 per cent fitness, lead speedster Shanon Gabriel is also an injury concern for the visitors.
Under such uncertain circumstances, skipper holder stated that the team would make a call on their participation on the morning of the game. He said,
“I am pushing really hard to be ready for the Test match. I felt in the last Test match, it just wasn't right. But I’ve had a scan and it didn't turn out to be too bad. It's a matter of managing the pain. It’s not been a situation where I’ve gone 100% on the field in a very long time. It’s nothing new to me, I’m up for the challenge.”
No update has been issued on the present situation of Gabriel. If he doesn’t get clearance to play the next Test, ace fast bowler Kemar Roach, who was declared available for the second Test match, will replace him in the playing XI.
Roach had to fly back home because of the sudden demise of his grandmother.
West Indies missed the services of both Roach and Holder in Rajkot as their bowlers failed to make inroads into the strong Indian batting line-up. Three Indian batters – Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja – slammed centuries lifting India to a mammoth first innings total of 649, which set-up their biggest Test victory by an innings and 272 runs inside three days.