In the absence of the injured Rishabh Pant, the experienced Ravindra Jadeja is handed the vice-captaincy mantle to support skipper Shubman Gill. The 15-member squad features the return of Jasprit Bumrah and the inclusion of Devdutt Padikkal for the home series starting in October.
September 25, 2025: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced a 15-man Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against the West Indies, which is set to begin on October 2. The series, which will be Shubman Gill’s first as Test captain on home soil, will see Ravindra Jadeja take on the role of vice-captain.
The squad features the return of batsmen Devdutt Padikkal and all-rounder Axar Patel, while Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, and Akashdeep Singh have been dropped. Jasprit Bumrah has been included and is available for both Test matches, dispelling concerns about his workload.
Here are some key highlights from the press conference:
- On the Squad Selection: Agarkar stated that the selection committee has largely retained the core of the team that played in the series in England. He emphasized that the team is not looking to experiment as every point in the World Test Championship counts.
- On Dropping Karun Nair: Agarkar explained that the selectors “expected a little bit more” from Nair after his performance in the England series. “I wish we could give everyone 15 or 20 Tests. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way,” he said, citing Devdutt Padikkal’s good form and previous experience in the Test squad as reasons for his inclusion.
- On Devdutt Padikkal’s Comeback: Padikkal, who was part of the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and missed the England tour due to injury, has been recalled after a recent century for India A against Australia A.
- On Ravindra Jadeja as Vice-Captain: With Rishabh Pant not having recovered from his foot injury, Jadeja has been named the new vice-captain. Agarkar called Jadeja a “top performer with a lot of experience.”
- On Rishabh Pant’s Return: The chief selector provided an update on Pant, saying he is “very close to getting fit” and the selectors are hopeful he will be 100% fit for the series against South Africa.
- On Jasprit Bumrah’s Workload: Agarkar confirmed that Bumrah is fit and “ready and keen to play both Tests,” despite a packed schedule including the Asia Cup final. He noted that Bumrah had a five-week break after the England tour.
- On Sarfaraz Khan: When asked about Sarfaraz Khan, Agarkar simply stated that the batsman “has been injured.”
- On Mohammed Shami’s Future: Agarkar said he does not have an update on Shami’s status, adding that “as a performer we know what he can do but he will have to play more cricket.”