The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a fresh 15-member squad for the upcoming two-Test series against West Indies, starting from October 2, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, followed by the second match in Delhi from October 10.
Shubman Gill has been handed the captaincy, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as vice-captain, marking the beginning of a new era in Indian Test cricket after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The squad brings together young faces and experienced players. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will open the innings, while the middle order features Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Nitish Reddy. Wicketkeeping duties will be carried out by Dhruv Jurel in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who is sidelined with a toe injury. Narayan Jagadeesan has also been included as a backup keeper and an option at the top of the order.
India’s bowling attack looks strong with Jasprit Bumrah making his return. He will lead the pace unit alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. The spin department includes Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. In the all-round department, Axar Patel makes his return for the home series, joining Jadeja and Washington Sundar to add depth in both batting and spin.
There are some notable omissions. Shreyas Iyer, a senior player and former India A captain, has been rested due to back problems. Ajit Agarkar explained, “Shreyas is a senior player, he was captain for India A as well. We're trying to find qualities of a leader in multiple players. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be available because of his fitness. More than anything, we want him playing and playing well.” Karun Nair has also missed out after struggling for form in England. Ajit Agarkar added about Nair, “We have expected more from him.” Sarfaraz Khan is unavailable with a quad injury.
This series is part of the new World Test Championship cycle and comes at a crucial time for India, who are currently ranked third. After suffering a shocking 0-3 home defeat to New Zealand last year, India will be eager to bounce back with a dominant performance against a confident West Indies side led by Roston Chase.
The selectors, headed by Ajit Agarkar, have stressed the importance of giving young players opportunities while maintaining a balance with senior members like Jadeja and Bumrah. The announcement of the squad was delayed by a day to avoid a clash with an Asia Cup fixture.