Indian players have got almost a month's rest after playing the final of the World Test Championship. Now the next match of the Indian team is against West Indies from 12th July. The Indian team will be in the West Indies for about a month. During this, Team India will play two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20 matches. The Indian team has been announced for the Test and ODI series. Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Shami have not been included in the Test team. Jaydev Unadkat has managed to retain his place in the team.

Delhi Capitals fast bowler Mukesh Kumar has also been included in the team. Navdeep Saini has also been given a chance in the Test team. Apart from these, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Siraj and Akshar Patel are part of the team. These players are continuously playing for India.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that Team India has missed a "good opportunity" by not giving chances to more youngsters in the Tests against the West Indies. The cricket legend suggested that players who are sure to play in the ODI World Cup in October-November this year should now focus on playing only ODIs.

Gavaskar said "The World Test Championship is gone. We missed out there. Now the next big event is the (ODI) World Cup in October and that's why I want the big players to be given a complete break from Test cricket. Now these Players should play only with white ball and not with red ball. Those players who are going to play in ODI World Cup should be given complete rest in the Test series. They have been playing cricket continuously for 3-4 months. They hardly get break have been found.''

He said, "If they had given every senior player a break and played some more young players, it would have done a lot for Indian cricket. But sadly it did not happen. I think a great opportunity was missed." "

The series against the West Indies marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Indian team as they embark on the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle and look to make it to the final of the Test Championship for the third time in a row.

(pc amarujala)