It came as a surprise to may too see Ravichandran Ashwin not featuring in the playing XI in the first Test against West Indies. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that it is astonishing for Ashwin to miss the playing 11.
India decided to go with only one spinner giving the chance to Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin, who was the main pick for team India, has a very good record against the West Indies. Hence, he should have been an automatic choice as a spinner. Jadeja was picked ahead of Ashwina and Kuldeep Yadav.
However, Ajinkya Rahane justified the team decision, saying that a combination of Jadeja as a sole spinner and Hanuma Bihari as the sixth batsman is what the management looked at. Although it was a tough call to exclude Ashwin, the team management had to look for a sixth batsman that forced them to go for Jadeja.
Batting first, after winning the toss, India were reduced to 25 for three. It was Rahane who held the Indian innings together with an indomitable 81 under tough conditions to take the score to 203 for six.
