Under Shubman Gill's captaincy, India are the optimal favourites to beat West Indies in the first Test. India just came off their Asia Cup triumph, staying on the high of their last-and-a-half week. The Indian team is travelling from Dubai with their head coach Gautam Gambhir, and is fully committed to the serious business of red-ball cricket and World Test Championship points. India comes off a thrilling 2-2 drawn series in England and is currently in third position in the points table, just ahead of England, so they will be eager to get an advantage with their four Tests at home, beginning with Ahmedabad, in the India vs West Indies match.

Ahmedabad looks as if it might have a green top, as it is hot and humid outside with cloudy skies and a chance of rain that is not likely to cause much concern for the match. Of note, this is not typical for India, as they typically prefer turning tracks and seem to value unturned surfaces more recently, with some degree of balance between batsmen and bowlers.
India has lost several players in the team setup from the November 2024 schedule, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Mohammed Shami is also out; however, India has a strong squad despite any changes to the team.

The team's composition is likely to receive more focus than the actual match. The bowling attack will consist of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as the primary spinners, with Washington Sundar or Axar Patel being added as support.

The seam options include either the all-rounder Nitish Reddy or an extra batter in Devdutt Padikkal. KL Rahul, fresh off a remarkable 176* for India A against Australia A, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been resting since the England tour, will provide steam in the top order. With Karun Nair's prospects starting to fade, B Sai Sudharsan will be up for the No.3 spot, and Gill will try to replicate his English summer with 754 runs in five Tests.

In contrast, the West Indies have a tough challenge. Confidence is low after they were bowled out for 27 in Jamaica, and with Shamar and Alzarri Joseph injured, they have lost two key pace bowlers. Jayden Seales and Jomel Warrican hold a lot of responsibility, and although the green pitch has pace in it, spinners will be very important. The absence of Kraigg Brathwaite has strengthened the batting order with the returns of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze. Captain Roston Chase, the only right-arm spinner, will have to manage both bowling and the needs of the game's situation, as the game progresses, on an Indian pitch.

Teams:
India: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wk), N Jagadeesan (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, B Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

West Indies: Roston Chase (c), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shai Hope (wk), Tevin Imlach (wk), Brandon King, Justin Greaves, Johann Layne, Khary Pierre, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, Jediah Blades.

(With PTI Inputs)