'We are going there to compete' – Stuart Law ahead of India examination

The Windies arrived in India on Thursday, 27 September and will play a two-day practice game in Vadodara to kick off their tour on 29 September before the first Test at Rajkot. Law recognises that the challenge in India will be tough but is backing the Windies top six to put runs on the board.

"Our top six are really good to stick their hand up and score big runs that they are capable of," he said ahead of the team's arrival. "If we can put runs on the board, we can create pressure that way and give our bowlers something to work with."

The visitors are ranked eighth in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings and will be taking on the No.1-ranked India. "Having said that, India are not going to be easy. We are under no illusions," Law said.

"They are the No.1 Test team in the world for a particular reason. So we have to play really well to not only get into the contest but also we can pressure them into mistakes and we can hang on to those mistakes, then we can open up opportunities.

"We are going there to compete. We are going there to do our very best and keep fighting till the very end. You never know what can happen."

Windies made a late replacement in the their Test squad when fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was ruled out because he had not recovered fully from a stress fracture sustained in November last year. Uncapped pacer Shermon Lewis was named Joseph's replacement.

Lewis, who made his first-class debut last year for Windward Islands last year, finished the 2017-18 domestic season with 30 wickets at 21.66 in the domestic four-day tournament. Law said the 22-year-old's pace can be handy in Indian conditions.

"He is an exciting new prospect coming from Grenada," Law said. "The smaller islands are getting some recognition, which is great."

"But he is not here just because he is from a small island. He is here because he is quality. [I am] looking forward to working with him, looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the table," he added.

"He has got some good pace, some swing that can be very handy particularly with reverse swing in India."

While Lewis adds to the youth factor in the team, the experienced guys including captain Jason Holder, Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Shai Hope and Shane Dowrich will have to take up the mantle to guide the young men in the team.

Dowrich, who scored a hundred and a fifty against Sri Lanka back at home in June this year, is in good touch and feels he's hitting the ball "pretty good". "India is always a tough place to play cricket. They are pretty good in their own backyard like most teams," he said.

"But I think we have been doing well in the last couple of series and going into this one I think we can put up a good fight. Our confidence is pretty high. We know it will be a tough series."

Conceding that scoring a Test hundred in India is something he would love to do, Dowrich said he is in a good space mentally. "I have been hitting the ball pretty good of late and want to continue that form," he said.

"I would love to score a Test hundred in India. But for me, it is about helping the team and looking to do as much as I could to make sure the team does the best."