1st Windies warm-up: Speedsters, openers the key to Kohli's gameplan

India's new chief coach Anil Kumble will have an eye on speedster Mohammed Shami's fitness and the form of opener Shikhar Dhawan when the team begins its tour of the West Indies with a two-day warm-up game against the West Indies Cricket Board President's XI, in Basseterre, on Saturday.

The match is an official game, in which both teams will bat a day each and all players allowed to play.

For Kumble, it is a new beginning, with his boys ready to hit the straps in what promises an eventful 49-day tour in the assortment of islands where the longer version of the game is no longer a priority.

Yet, a team that has six current Test players, including skipper Leon Johnson, Jermaine Blackwood, Rajendra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope and Jomel Warrican, will mean that the Indians are expected to get quality match practice.

The first warm-up match should indicate how India's key speedster Shami's body holds up to the rigours of the longer version, particularly when he returns for his second and third spells.

Skipper Virat Kohli had in fact complimented the pacer, saying he is someone "who bowls the ideal Test match length".

Ishant Sharma, who had a long lay-off, will also be looking to get into the groove along with Umesh Yadav, as the trio are key to Kohli's gameplan.

For the coach, it is an opportunity to also test his reserve pacers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur.

The top-order batsmen are expected to at least face around 75-80 balls.

When India tours abroad for Test series, the general norm is that specialist batsmen play 75-80 balls (in case they don't get out) and then retire to allow others get some time out in the middle.

Shikhar Dhawan, whose form in the longer version is pretty patchy, will be hoping to get a few runs under his belt.

It is likely that he will face the new ball alongside Murali Vijay, who is a certainty.

Ditto for skipper Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who need to get some batting time in the middle.

KL Rahul would like to breathe down Dhawan's neck with a couple of good knocks in the practice games.

Similarly, Rohit Sharma will be aiming to give Cheteshwar Pujara a tough fight for the only middle-order slot.

Stuart Binny comes into the equation depending on what the Kumble-Kohli duo think about him as the fifth bowler or third seamer.

With the pitches in the West Indies getting slower by the day, all the three spinners will take turns to roll their arm over.

Barring fitness issues, Ravichandran Ashwin will be the premier spinner and, in terms of pure skill, Amit Mishra is certainly ahead of Ravindra Jadeja because of his ability to get sufficient turn on his leg-breaks and bowl the odd googly.

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Stuart Binny

WICB President's XI squad: Leon Johnson (capt), Jermaine Blackwood, Rajendra Chandrika, Roston Chase, Jason Dawes, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope, Damion Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Marquino Mindley, Vishaul Singh, Jomel Warrican

Match starts: 7:30 pm (IST)