India named their squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against the West Indies.
Ravindra Jadeja named India vice-captain for West Indies Tests
Shubman Gill, who had led India to a 2-2 draw in his first Test series as captain, will lead the side. However, vice-captain and first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the series. Legendary all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been named Gill’s deputy.
Dhruv Jurel, who has been India’s primary backup keeper, is expected to start the series. The uncapped N Jagadeesan, who had been called up for The Oval Test match after Pant had been ruled out, is also part of the squad.
The squad does not have many surprises. The selectors have left out Karun Nair, who returned to Test cricket after eight years in England, but to make only 205 runs at 25.62. They dropped the uncapped Abhimanyu Easwaran from the squad as well. Sarfaraz Khan, who played India’s last home series against New Zealand but did not get a game in Australia and was left out of the England tour, has not been recalled. His absence may be fitness-related – a quadriceps injury kept him out of the Duleep Trophy.
Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy return
However, the selectors have shown faith in B Sai Sudharsan and, after his 150 against Australia A, Devdutt Padikkal. One of them (presumably the former) will almost certainly bat at one-drop in the Test series. It is not clear who will fill the No.5 spot: for that, India have several options to choose from. These include Nitish Kumar Reddy, now back from injury: he has been more or less a batter who bowls in Test cricket.
The spin department is heavily stocked, with Axar Patel joining Jadeja and Washington Sundar to form a trinity of world-class spinners, all of whom can bat: however, it is likely that Kuldeep Yadav may replace one of them. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna (and Nitish) form the pace attack. Akash Deep, out of competitive cricket since The Oval Test due to an injury, is not part of the squad. He will be in action for Rest of India in the Irani Cup against Vidarbha instead.
It is worth a mention that these will be India’s first home Test matches since the Nagpur Test of November 2010 against New Zealand without any one of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and R Ashwin.
India squad for 2025 West Indies Test series
Batters
Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal.
Wicketkeepers
Dhruv Jurel, N Jagadeesan.
All-rounders
Spin: Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Seam: Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Fast bowlers
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Spinners
Kuldeep Yadav.
India v West Indies 2025 Test series schedule
1st Test, October 2-6: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
2nd Test, October 10-14: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
