In a team where there is fierce competition for places, the two Tests against the West Indies have provided a rare opportunity for India's reserve batsmen to stamp their authority, considering obviously that there is no repeat of the selection fiasco like the one involving triple centurion Karun Nair.

With both openers Murali Vijay [excluded after the second Test in England] and Shikhar Dhawan [dropped after the England tour] out, Team India are all set to unleash a new opening combination for the first Test against the West Indies beginning here tomorrow. The failures of the openers have hurt Virat Kohli's team the most on the tours to South Africa and England, where the Indians lost 1-2 and 1-4 respectively. Out of the eight Tests that India played in SA and England, only thrice have the Indian openers managed to put on a 50-plus stand. And before the all-important tour to Australia later this year, the Indian team management will be keen to put in place their new opening combo.