The wait is over. India Test squad for the upcoming home series against West Indies is out, and there are a few surprises tucked in with the predictable names.
Shubman Gill will captain India for the first time on home soil. At 26, this is a big step forward. Beside him, Ravindra Jadeja wears the vice-captain’s badge, taking the role from the injured Rishabh Pant.
Rishabh Pant absence is a big blow. He still hasn’t recovered fully from the toe fracture he suffered in the England series. In his place, Dhruv Jurel – who looked solid with the gloves on that tour – will take charge behind the stumps once again. As cover, N Jagadeesan has also been included in the squad.
India Squad for WI Tests 2025
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (C) | Batter |
| Ravindra Jadeja (VC) | All-rounder |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter |
| Sai Sudharsan | Batter |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batter |
| KL Rahul | Batter |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper |
| N Jagadeesan | Wicketkeeper |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner |
| Nitish Reddy | All-rounder |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Pacer |
| Mohammed Siraj | Pacer |
| Prasidh Krishna | Pacer |
Karun Nair, who made a return for the England series after nearly a decade away, has been dropped again. Despite showing promise with starts, his lack of big scores cost him a place.
Shreyas Iyer? Not even in contention. The middle-order batter requested a six-month break from red-ball cricket after surgery-related fitness struggles. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said bluntly, “We want him to play when he’s fully fit. Nothing else matters.”
Shardul Thakur also misses out, with selectors leaning toward fresh faces in the all-rounder department.
Test Schedule – IND vs WI 2025
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | 2–6 October 2025 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 9:30 AM |
| 2nd Test | 10–14 October 2025 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 9:30 AM |
India, fresh from the long England grind and an Asia Cup campaign, is entering a short but telling series. Gill leadership will be scrutinized. Jadeja all-round reliability will be leaned on. And for Padikkal, Jurel, and Sudharsan, this could be a career-shaping window.
West Indies, led by Roston Chase, won’t have the depth of the Indian squad, but they’ll know one thing: if India fielding lapses from the Asia Cup spill into the red-ball game, even a two-Test series can slip.
The squad has talent, no doubt. But in October, it’s temperament that will be tested.
