The dust has barely settled on India’s Asia Cup triumph and the Indians are already focused on their next assignment – a full home series against West Indies which begins on October 4.

A tour of Australia will then start barely 10 days after the conclusion of the clashes against the Caribbean side later this year. It therefore didn’t come as a surprise that the Indian management made a host of changes to the Test team for the two-match Test series against the Windies.

Fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested, both Ishant Sharma and Hardik Pandya are still injured, while opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was dropped after a poor Test series in England. Also, Test specialists Murali Vijay and Karun Nair have been shown the door. In their place, a few new faces will be given opportunities. Here, we take a look at them.

MAYANK AGARWAL

India batsman Mayank Agarwal.

The Karnataka batsman has been waiting in the wings for a season despite scoring a record 2,000 runs in one campaign. He has the experience and temperament but was regularly overlooked for players who seemed to have more flair. However, he has been finally rewarded for his patience. Scored a first-class double ton against South Africa ‘A’ in Bengaluru last month.

PRITHVI SHAW

Prithvi Shaw (r) has been in superb form in red-ball cricket.

The exciting opening batsman has been earmarked as a special talent. He led the India U19 side to the World Cup title earlier in the year. Since his first-class debut this season, has scored seven centuries in 14 matches. Has caught the eye of Sachin Tendulkar and the Mumbai batsman has many cricket enthusiasts already going ga ga over his style and poise.

MOHAMMED SIRAJ 

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj.

The fast bowler has been unstoppable in red-ball matches. He has scooped 40 wickets in nine first-class innings this season. The Hyderabad fast bowler has been amongst the wickets in first-class cricket for a couple of seasons but three poor T20 games for India – going at more than 12 an over – have reduced his chances in white-ball matches. However, he can be a lethal force in Tests as he has pace and great control.

HANUMA VIHARI

Hanuma Vihari had a great Oval Test.

A left-field selection for the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval. Thoroughly impressed with his bravery and calm demeanour as he scored a fighting fifty and picked up three wickets. It’s his off-spin bowling that makes him a great option as he is good enough to bowl a dozen of so overs every day even in away Tests and has the technique to be a No6 batsman.