India's Tour of West Indies 2017: Five Indian players to watch out for

It will be a relatively easier tour for the Indian team, but there will be more than enough pressure points to test the skipper. Despite his brilliance with the bat, the 28-year-old has become the centre of all the negative press since the departure of Anil Kumble as Indian coach in a fractious manner. The only way to respond, for him, is to fire.

The young all-rounder was a treat to watch at the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy in England. Growing in stature with every passing game, the 23-year-old will play a pivotal role in his 'home series'. Yes, he has often been hailed for nostalgically reminding the greats — those who can bat, bowl, field, and also shake a leg — from the Caribbean islands.

Often chided for his lack of technique and will power to carry on the innings after getting starts, an evolved Dhawan showed why he is such a valuable member of the Indian team. In back-to-back Champions Trophy tournaments, the left-handed batsman became the leading run-scorer. And he is likely to carry that form, from England to West Indies, to consolidate his place in the team.

The beauty with Bhuvi is, he can do so many things with the ball despite conservatively being a medium pacer. It's sure, his variations will probe the young Windies batting line-up, but what fans would like to see is an improved showing from the 27-year-old. He didn't really express himself last time India visited West Indies.

It's irrelevant, talking about pitch, now! Pitches in West Indies are now being compared to dust-bowls of Indian sub-continent. Truth be told, it will be a disservice if we continue comparing the pitches from these two different worlds. Such is the state of affairs, and the recent series against Pakistan and Afghanistan stand as a testament to it. But still, being there in the Caribbean means playing with fast bowlers. Today, Shami is the best in India. After missing the Champions Trophy, he will be extra motivated to perform.