3 changes India must make for the second Test against West Indies

India defeated West Indies convincingly in the first Test at Rajkot by an innings and 272 runs. Batting first, India posted a mammoth 649/9 with centuries from debutant Prithvi Shaw, skipper Virat Kohli and local boy Ravindra Jadeja.

In reply, the Windies were unable to handle the red-hot Indian bowlers, who rattled them up in both the innings.

The match ended in three days and the caravan will now move to Hyderabad for the second Test beginning from October 12.

Let us now look at three changes Team India might make for the second Test.

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#1 Mayank Agarwal in for K L Rahul

Mayank Agarwal

Fans were highly anticipating Mayank Agarwal's Test debut in the first game at Rajkot. But, that did not happen as the Karnataka batsman was left out of the playing XI. Instead, they witnessed one of the masterful innings from the 18-year old debutant, Prithvi Shaw who went onto score 134(154) in his very first innings at the biggest stage.

Shaw's explosive knock has not only cemented his place in the playing XI but also in the history books as he became the second youngest (18 years 329 days) Indian Test centurion after the legendary, Sachin Tendulkar.

Meanwhile, Shaw's opening partner K L Rahul, who scored a brilliant century (149 off 224 in the fifth Test at Oval against England) last month after successive failures with the bat, once again did not prove his worth at the top. Rahul got out without troubling the scorers, facing just four deliveries in the very first over of the Test match.

His review for the on-field Umpire's decision (was given out lbw off Shannon Gabriel) went futile as Team India once again lost their review early in the game. Failure to get going with the bat during the England series and getting out for a duck against the West Indies might not augur well for Rahul who is most likely to sit out for the next game at Hyderabad.

Having scored tons of runs at the domestic level, Agarwal might make his much-awaited Test debut in the second Test.

#2 Mohammad Siraj in for Umesh Yadav

Mohammad Siraj

Yadav scalped just one wicket (all rounder Keemo Paul) in the entire first Test match and was not at his usual best with the ball. It was Shami who actually did the damage with the new ball early in the West Indies (first) innings, chipping in with two quick wickets.

With the pitch assisting spinners, Yadav hardly got his chance in the second innings. Having taken a whopping 40 wickets in his last five first-class matches, Siraj is in a scintillating form with the cherry.

The right arm medium fast bowler has 97 wickets under his belt in 20 First class matches, with his best figures being 8/59. With the next game set to be played at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal, Siraj might fancy his chances of making the XI.

Playing for Hyderabad at the domestic level, Siraj's familiarity with local conditions might favour him ahead of other pacers and is likely to make his Test debut coming in place of the speedster, Umesh Yadav.

#3 Hanuma Vihari in for Ajinkya Rahane

Hanuma Vihari

Five Indian batsmen scored more than a half-century at Rajkot, but Rahane was one those who failed to cross that mark. Playing against an inexperienced Windies side, much was expected from one of the most reliable batsmen in the Indian team, but Rahane who got out for 41 in India's first innings.

With youngsters like Hanauma Vihari in the squad, Rahane might be dropped for the second Test to give them more Test match exposure.

The leading run scorer of the last Ranji season, Vihari made his Test debut against England at the Oval last month. He scored a brilliant 56 in his very first innings guiding India to a respectable total against the English and was highly praised for his knock under immense pressure.

Expect Vihari to make the cut for the second Test at Hyderabad where has played a lot of cricket.