India vs West Indies 2016: 5 key player battles

India will kick off their series in the Caribbean with the first Test against the West Indies from July 21 at Antigua. This will be an interesting series for the visitors as it will be the first time that Indian legend Anil Kumble, who has taken over as the head coach, will be at the helm.

The Kumble-Kohli partnership which many expect will bring a great many laurels to the nation will be under the scanner for the first time in the series. The West Indies on the other hand, though lacking the force of the yesteryears, will surely be a force to contend with on their home turf.

The Tests promise to be long, hard-fought affairs and will be entertaining, to say the least. Here are five key player battles that might well decide the series.

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Shannon Gabriel vs Murali Vijay

Once considered the Mecca of promising fast bowlers, it is unthinkable that the West Indies should go into a Test series with only one pure fast bowler in their ranks. The era of tall, fiery West Indian quicks who struck terror in the hearts of the opposition seems to be well over for now.

But Shannon Gabriel, included as the only pure fast bowler in the squad against India, is a throwback to the yesteryears. Tall, sturdy and quick, Gabriel can bowl fast and trouble any batsman on his day.

He will be up against Murali Vijay, the Indian opener who has firmly established himself as a quality Test opener in the recent years. Someone who cannot be tempted easily, the Monk as he is known has a propensity for playing long, solid knocks at the top of the order.

Vijay versus Gabriel will automatically be one of the contests to watch out for.