India vs Windies: Why didn't Jason Holder feature in the first Test?

The Windies received a blow on the very first day of their two-Test series versus India as their skipper Jason Holder was ruled out of the first Test in Rajkot with an ankle sprain. Kraigg Brathwaite was picked as the stand-in skipper. It is for the second time that the opener has been chosen to lead the Caribbeans in the absence of Holder. Last year, Brathwaite chipped in as the leader of the pack in a Test in New Zealand after Holder faced suspension for an offence related to over rate.

The 26-year-old bowling all-rounder from Barbados is believed to have sustained the injury in Dubai where the visitors underwent pre-series training. He also did not bowl in the two-day practice game prior to the series in Vadodara though rotated his arms in the nets on the eve of the Rajkot Test. There was, however, no communication over his injury in the pre-match presser which the captain addressed himself on Wednesday.

Holder’s absence a blow to visitors’ fast bowling

Jason Holder’s absence is a big blow to a team which is looking for their first Test win in India since 1994 and first series win since 1983-84. The Windies are already without Kemar Roach, another frontline pacer, because of personal reasons. The absence of the two important bowling members means the visitors will have to do with Shannon Gabriel, Keemo Paul and debutant Sherman Lewis who replaced an injured Alzzari Joseph who is recovering from a stress fracture of the back.

Meanwhile, India won the toss and elected to bat in Rajkot and they are looking comfortable now after losing KL Rahul in the very first over. Teenage sensation Prithvi Shaw made his debut in the Test and scored a fifty off just 57 balls while Cheteshwar Pujara is looking good at the other end as well.

India’s regular skipper Virat Kohli was back to lead the side after skipping the Asia Cup and the hosts are playing three spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav in the game.

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