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India seek top-order answer to face Starc

Finding a reliable top order to face Australia's pace battery behind changes for Windies tour, says Virat Kohli

Skipper Virat Kohli said Wednesday India are looking to "cement" the team's misfiring top order ahead of this summer's showdown with Australia with teenage opener Prithvi Shaw named to face the West Indies.

The world's No.1 Test side suffered from inconsistent top order during their overseas tours of South Africa and England, losing 1-2 and 1-4 respectively.

The two-match West Indies series starting in Rajkot on Thursday gives India an opportunity to work on their problem areas ahead of the all-important four-match Domain Test Series in Australia that starts December 6 in Adelaide.

"I think the top order getting cemented with these two Test matches, that's what we are looking at," Kohli told reporters.

"These guys are new, so they will take a bit of time to get into it. But they definitely have the skillset," he said.

"They should look at it as an opportunity and not think of pressure, because they're very young, and it's a great chance for them to cement their place and play for a long time."

The 18-year-old Shaw, who was chosen ahead of uncapped Mayank Agarwal and one-Test player Hanuma Vihari from the 15-man squad, is expected to open the batting alongside KL Rahul.

Shaw has accumulated 1,418 runs in 14 first-class games including seven centuries and made a strong showing for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

Image Id: C2F3118C10BF4A1595F936880776E306 Image Caption: Comparisons have already been made between Prithvi Shaw and Sachin Tendulkar

Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan managed just 162 runs in eight innings in seaming English conditions and the Melbourne resident was subsequently dropped for the West Indies series.

"We know as a team and everyone on the outside also knows the areas we need to improve on, and definitely if you look at sides that win Test matches contributions at the top and contributions in the lower order are more crucial," said Kohli.

"Because whatever happens in the middle is connected to either the top order or what the lower order does."

Kohli, who was criticised for sitting out the Asia Cup won by the Rohit Sharma-led India in the UAE, said rest in between long tours will be key for keeping players fit ahead of the World Cup in 2019.

"I am feeling rejuvenated again. It was mental and physical both because of the intensity of the two tours, both South Africa and England," said Kohli.

"I definitely needed the break because my back went once in South Africa then it went again (in) England.

"Looking at the World Cup I think these things are very important to consider, to give players ample rest and opportunity to train well and come back stronger."

India XI: Lokesh Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav/Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav

West Indies (from): Jason Holder (c), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich (wicketkeeper), Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Sherman Lewis, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph


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