The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rated the pitch used during the first Test between West Indies and India from July 12-14 at Windsor Park in Roseau in the Caribbean as ‘below average’.

ICC rates IND-WI 1st Test pitch ‘below average’, venue receives one demerit point

The BCCI is contemplating resting more star players for the Ireland T20Is, with the latest reports suggesting the board might also rest stand-in T20I captain Hardik Pandya and opener Shubman Gill to manage their workload ahead of the packed calendar.

With all eyes on Asia Cup, World Cup, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill could be rested for Ireland T20Is - Reports

West Indies clinched a close two-wicket win over India in the 2nd T20I in Guyana on Sunday. Keeper-batter Nicholas Pooran starred with the bat, hitting a 40-ball 61 as the hosts continued their domination in their favourite format.

West Indies go 2-0 up in five-match series with two-wicket win in 2nd T20I against India

Kuldeep Yadav’s rise is gradual but has started to make headlines now. The left-arm unorthodox spinner is the highest wicket-taker for India this year with 23 wickets in 12 matches and is on the right course to seal his place in the XI for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India later.

Not Kohli or Shastri, but THIS former selector helped Kuldeep Yadav revive his international career

West Indies bowling legend Curtly Ambrose is a Virat Kohli fan. Having heaped praises on the India great earlier, Ambrose opines Virat might not be a six-hitter but can score as quickly as those batters who are recognised as ones.

Virat Kohli can score as quickly as guys you call six hitters: Curtly Ambrose praises India legend

Two of India’s premier white-ball spinners – Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, often known as 'Kul-Cha' among Indian cricket fans, were once the force to reckon with.

'He helps me a lot when I play, we're very relaxed': Kuldeep Yadav on competition with Chahal for place in XI

Rohit Sharma-led India demolished West Indies by five wickets in the series opener of the three-ODI series on Thursday (July 27) in Barbados. Opting to bowl first, India rode on Kuldeep Yadav's 4 for 6 and Ravindra Jadeja's 3 for 37 to dismiss Shai Hope-led Windies for a paltry 114 in 23 overs.

Watch: Shubman Gill reacts after Virat Kohli pulls off a one-handed stunner in IND vs WI 1st ODI

Ishan Kishan’s fourth ODI fifty and Kuldeep Yadav’s four-for helped India beat West Indies by five wickets in the first ODI in Barbados on Thursday. In a contest that could be dubbed one-sided despite India losing five wickets in a chase of just 115, seamer Mukesh Kumar made his ODI debut.

WI vs IND, 1st ODI: Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav help India draw first blood, beat West Indies by five wickets

Virat Kohli completed his first away Test hundred in five years, and the India batter was all but elated about finding rhythm on the Caribbean tour. Against West Indies during the second Test at Port of Spain in Trinidad, Kohli scored 121 off 206 balls, hitting 11 fours.

WI vs IND, 2nd Test: 'I enjoyed myself, my record of 15 away hundreds is not bad', says Kohli after record ton

Virat Kohli is perhaps India's best batter since the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies great Courtney Walsh share the same opinion. Being the first bowler to pick 500 wickets in Tests, Walsh hailed the Indian batting great, calling him among the four or five greatest cricketers he has seen.

'He's among top 4, 5 greatest cricketers I have seen': Courtney Walsh on Virat Kohli

Former Australia quick Jason Gillespie feels Jasprit Bumrah’s absence is being felt dearly, and for what the India pacer brings to the table, his comeback would be grander for the Men in Blue.

Top star Jasprit Bumrah's absence is being felt dearly, feels ex-Australia quick Jason Gillespie

West Indies have named a bowling-heavy 13-man squad for the first Test against India, starting July 12 in Dominica, with spin-bowling all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall returning to the side for the first time in two years.

West Indies name 13-man bowling-heavy squad for 1st Test vs India, spinner Rahkeem Cornwall recalled

A future superstar in the making, Tilak Varma received his maiden India call-up for the five-match T20Is against West Indies. Playing for South Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, Varma revealed receiving advice from stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and how he dreams about playing for India and bailing them out of trouble in crunch games.

Superstar-in-making Tilak Varma opens up on receiving advice from Rohit, Kohli ahead of West Indies tour

Former India cricketer and coach Lalchand Rajput has backed BCCI’s call to drop seasoned campaigner Cheteshwar Pujara from Test squad for the West Indies series starting July 12.

WI vs IND 2023: Ex-coach backs BCCI's call to drop Cheteshwar Pujara from Test squad, calls it 'positive move'

Sarfaraz Khan’s absence from the Test squad for the upcoming West Indies series raised several eyebrows. Following India’s second straight WTC Final defeat, this time against Australia by 209 runs, fans, alongside pundits, expected some drastic changes to happen, at least in the batting order.

'He is not getting ignored because of cricketing reasons..': BCCI official on Sarfaraz Khan's non-selection

Ishan Kishan is among several centrally contracted players who will reach the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru next week for strength and conditioning-related work ahead of the start of the West Indies tour.

Ishan Kishan among other contracted players head to NCA for strength & conditioning ahead of West Indies tour

Tests specialists Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara will return to playing in division two of the County Championship after India’s upcoming tour of the West Indies.

Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara set to return to English County after West Indies tour

India captain Rohit Sharma might be the newest addition to the list of players who could be rested for 'some part' of the upcoming West Indies tour, per the latest reports.

WI vs IND 2023: Selectors ponder over resting 'worn-out' Rohit Sharma for few matches - Reports

Ace bowling spearhead Mohammed Shami could likely be rested for the two Tests against West Indies, starting July 12. Shami, who since the Border-Gavaskar series in February-March has played regular cricket, might be getting the much-needed rest as selectors also ponder upon picking uncapped youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal for Cheteshwar Pujara.

WI vs IND: Mohammed Shami to be rested, Yashasvi Jaiswal likely to replace Pujara in Test squad - Reports

Cricket West Indies (CWI), on Monday, announced the full schedule of India’s tour of the West Indies in July-August. India will play two Tests, which falls under the next World Test Championship (WTC) Cycle, three ODIs and five T20Is (in the same order) – starting July 12 till August 13.

India’s tour of West Indies 2023: CWI announces full schedule, Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar in line for Test call-ups