Press Trust of India
Basseterre (St Kitts), July 8: India’s new chief coach Anil Kumble will be keeping a keen eye on speedster Mohammed Shami’s fitness along with the form of opener Shikhar Dhawan when the team begin their tour of West Indies with a two-day warm-up game against WICB President’s XI here Saturday.
The two-day match will be an unofficial game where both teams will get to bat a day each with all players being allowed to play.
For Kumble, it will be a new beginning with his boys ready to hit the straps in what promises to be an eventful 49-day tour in the assortment of islands where longer version of the game is no longer a priority.
Yet a team that have six current Test players including skipper Leon Johnson, Jermaine Blackwood, Rajendra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope and Jomel Warrican will mean that Indians are expected to get quality match practice.
The first warm-up match will indicate as to how Shami’s body holds to the rigours of the longer version – when he comes back for his second and third spells.
Ishant Sharma, who has had a long lay-off, will also like to get into the groove along with Umesh Yadav as the trio will be the key to Kohli’s gameplans.
As far as batting is concerned it is expected that the top-order batsmen will be told to face at least 75-80 balls.
Since landing here Thursday, the Indians have enjoyed an open yoga session and a game of beach volleyball.