Rohit Sharma not playing today’s first Test: India have not included limited-overs vice-captain in their playing XI for the first Test.
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During the first Test of the ongoing India’s tour of West Indies at Antigua, India have not included their limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma into the playing XI. The toss was delayed due to rain on Day 1. While it appeared that no play was possible in the first session, the weather eventually improved.
Sharma had last played for India in Tests during the tour of Australia last year. In his last four Tests, Sharma had scored 184 runs at an average of 26.28 and a strike rate of 47.30 including one half-century.
Rohit Sharma not playing today’s first Test
It was West Indies captain Jason Holder who won the toss and chose to field. “We will field first. Some moisture in the wicket and we want to take advantage.
“We have had some solid preparations and are looking forward to this. Every series is a new series, need to do our best. We have a new guy, Shamarh Brooks, who makes his Test debut for us,” Holder was quoted as saying during the toss.
India captain Virat Kohli announced it at the toss that Sharma wouldn’t be playing. While Kohli didn’t reveal any particular reason, it seems India didn’t want to tinker with their combination from the last Test at Sydney.
“We were batting first anyway, look to put runs on the board and then attack with the ball. We know what to do in the middle, need to play consistent good cricket, no room for complacency. Mayank [Agarwal] and KL [Rahul] will open in this series,” Kohli was quoted as saying.
