The veteran India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has lauded Rohit Sharma’s leadership in the second Test of the two-match series between India and West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The clash between India and West Indies is a historic one as this is the 100th Test between the two teams. Among the 99 Tests so far, West Indies have won 30 and India have won 23, while 46 have been draws.

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During an interaction on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik showered praise on Rohit Sharma for rotating his bowlers quite nicely in the second Test.

“I have played a lot of Ranji matches where we end up playing on really dead pitches. I think the one in Trinidad is not a dead pitch. There is something happening from the rough. But for the fast bowlers, there is not too much in it.

“I thought Rohit handled his fast bowlers well, giving them spells, bringing them back, and also bowling the spinners quite a bit. When reverse was in play, he made use of all the bowlers. (Mohammed) Siraj bowled beautifully,” Dinesh Karthik said.

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Karthik feels that the Indian bowlers have failed to get quick wickets in the match due to the defensive approach of the West Indies. He said:

“So there is not too much to dig into for the sake of it if they could have done anything different. If even a mediocre batting unit decides that they just want to defend, it is going to be really hard.”

The West Indies have scored at a run rate of 2.12 in the second Test and at stumps on Day 3, the hosts were at 229/5 in 108 overs with Alick Athanaze (37) and Jason Holder (11) unbeaten in the middle.

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Making his prediction for the second Test, Dinesh Karthik ruled out the possibility of the home side winning the match. He also believes that the West Indies are playing for a draw and they don’t have victory on their minds.

“This Test match is only going two ways. It’s either India winning, which is a very, very high possibility, or the draw, which is what looks like West Indies are playing for. For India to win, all they need to be doing is making sure they get the next five wickets.

“If that happens even in 40 to 45 overs, they will still have 45 overs to bat, and I am pretty sure that they will get somewhere between 200 to 220,” Karthik said.

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The veteran wicketkeeper-batter concluded by naming two key batters for India in their second innings. He elaborated:

“Two key batters for me will be Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yashasvi became he is somebody who, when he plays an attacking brand of cricket, I think he bats his best. Yes, We have Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but my eye is going to be on Shubman Gill.

“Yes, he hasn’t got runs on the store, he’ll be looking to do that, and when you tell a batter of that caliber to go ahead and play a few shots, it’s great. I think he will go out, release himself and play a few lovely shots.”

The West Indies have been winless against the Men In Blue in the last 21 years and the result of the ongoing Test also seems to be going in the favour of India.

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