Patiala, September 25 (Sports Desk)
India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will miss the upcoming two-Test home series against West Indies, starting October 2, 2025, as he continues to recover from a left foot fracture sustained during the fifth Test against England at The Oval in July-August 2025. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named a 15-member squad for the series, which marks India’s second assignment in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, following a 2-2 draw in the five-Test series in England.
India Squad for West Indies Tests
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Shubman Gill (c)
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Yashasvi Jaiswal
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KL Rahul
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Sai Sudharsan
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Devdutt Padikkal
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Dhruv Jurel
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Ravindra Jadeja (vc)
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Washington Sundar
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Jasprit Bumrah
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Axar Patel
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Nitish Kumar Reddy
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N Jagadeesan
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Mohammed Siraj
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Prasidh Krishna
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Kuldeep Yadav
Key Changes and Absences
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Rishabh Pant’s Absence: Pant, a key figure in India’s batting lineup, remains sidelined due to his ongoing rehabilitation. N Jagadeesan, who replaced Pant during the England series, retains his spot as the backup wicketkeeper.
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Ravindra Jadeja as Vice-Captain: Jadeja, who was the fourth-highest run-getter in the England series despite batting lower down the order, has been named vice-captain for the series, stepping into Pant’s leadership role.
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Notable Exclusions: Karun Nair and Akash Deep have been dropped from the England Test squad. Nair, who scored 205 runs in eight innings in England (highest 57, one fifty), underperformed expectations, according to chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.
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New and Returning Players: Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Axar Patel have been included. Padikkal, who scored a fifty in Dharamsala against England, is rewarded for his form, while Sudharsan gets another opportunity after being part of the Australia Test squad.
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Ajit Agarkar’s Comments
At a press conference in Dubai, Agarkar explained the selection decisions:
“We expected more from Karun. Padikkal offers a bit more at this point. He was in the Test squad in Australia, played in Dharamsala, and got a fifty there. He’s shown decent form. Unfortunately, we can’t give everyone 15-20 Tests.”
On Jasprit Bumrah, who played only three of the five Tests in England, Agarkar confirmed his availability:
“This team has been picked for both Tests, and Bumrah is available for both. We’ve had a fair break after England, and he didn’t play the fifth Test, so he’s had a five-week rest. The Asia Cup schedule has also been spaced out, so he’s ready and keen to play.”
Series Context
India, currently third in the ICC WTC 2025-27 standings, will play their first home series of the cycle. West Indies, yet to earn points in the WTC table, face an uphill task. The two Tests are scheduled as follows:
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1st Test: October 2, 2025, Ahmedabad
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2nd Test: October 10, 2025, Delhi
India’s balanced squad, led by Shubman Gill and bolstered by Jadeja’s all-round prowess and Bumrah’s pace, aims to capitalize on home conditions to strengthen their WTC position.
