It’s not often that one is greeted by a green playing surface in India. Recognised with good reason as the land of spin, India have used their wonderful tweakers over the years to stack up a grand record of home dominance, and while that is unlikely to change dramatically, spin might not be as much in focus as predicted at the start of their home international season.

Four Tests in eight weeks

Shubman Gill’s side will kick off a run of four home Tests in eight weeks on Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium against West Indies, hoping to reclaim their status as practically impossible to tame on their own patch. India’s aura of home invincibility took a serious pounding after the 0-3 drubbing by New Zealand last year, but that doesn’t make them any more vulnerable. Their last assignment ended in a 2-2 stalemate following five breathtaking pow-wows in England, and it’s off that confidence that they will feed against a West Indian outfit helmed by Roston Chase that is languishing in eighth position on the ICC Test table.