Test Series: Game 2
Stadium: Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
20th June 2023.
West Indies will be facing off against India in the second test of the Indian tour of West Indies at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. West Indies have failed to get a place in the World Cup which will be held later this year. They will be looking for some retribution in the longest format of the game but after losing their first game without any fight can they level the series? Who will win this game?
Claim Your Welcome Bonus!West Indies form
The West Indies cricket team has been on a downward trajectory for a considerable period, but they occasionally deliver performances that reignite hope. However, Kraigg Brathwaite and his team will require something extraordinary to pose a challenge against India.
One notable factor is that the playing conditions seem to heavily favour India, and even if that changes for this particular match, the West Indies batting lineup is considerably weak, making it susceptible to the relatively inexperienced Indian bowling attack.
Kraigg Brathwaite has faced dismissal by Ashwin six times now, including twice in the previous Test match. As the most prominent West Indian batsman, Brathwaite's struggle puts additional pressure on the rest of the batting order, making them vulnerable as well.
While Alick Athanaze has shown promise and possesses the ability to score runs, there are few other West Indian batters who inspire confidence. In fact, it could be a wise decision to bet against the West Indian batsmen whenever the opportunity arises.
Unfortunately, Rakheem Cornwall is expected to miss this match due to injury, potentially leading to Kevin Sinclair or Shannon Gabriel taking his place. Alzarri Joseph will spearhead the bowling attack and could pose a significant threat if the conditions offer assistance to the fast bowlers or provide extra bounce.
West Indies Lineup
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican
India form
The first Test showcased India's dominance, with conditions favouring them to the point where they felt like the home team. However, we anticipate a more competitive challenge in the upcoming match. Given the need for game time, India is unlikely to make any changes to its lineup.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma displayed remarkable patience, each scoring a century, while Virat Kohli fought hard for his runs, managing to reach 76. Ajinkya Rahane, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja form a formidable batting lineup.
Although Shubman Gill has struggled to consistently convert his white-ball success into runs in the Test arena, we wouldn't bet against him. Ravindra Jadeja is currently a strong contender for over/under bets in this match. With an unbeaten 37 in the previous match and an average of over 50 in Test cricket over the past two years, he is in excellent form.
The bowling lineup excels in the spin. Ashwin proved his prowess by dismantling the West Indian batting in the previous match and is likely to lead India's bowling attack again. Additionally, some bounce and seam could bring Mohammed Siraj into the picture, but Ashwin should not be underestimated.
Overall, India's strength surpasses that of the West Indies at the moment, and it would take a significant collapse from India to lose this match.
India Predicted Lineup
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar
Expert betting tips
Speculation has arisen regarding the pitch in Port of Spain for this match, suggesting that a livelier surface might be prepared. It is possible that the groundsman will intentionally leave some grass on the pitch to counter the effectiveness of the Indian spinners. However, regardless of external factors, the inherent nature of the pitch indicates that it will flatten out by Day 2 and gradually offer spin-friendly conditions by Day 4. Weather forecasts predict rain throughout the duration of the match, indicating that there is a high likelihood of frequent interruptions. We expect India to get the job done once again. Expect Indian bowlers to shine in this game.