Mumbai, September 25, 2025 — The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the national squad for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies, revealing key changes in leadership and player selection. Middle-order batsman Karun Nair has been dropped from the squad, while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been appointed vice captain. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant continues to remain unavailable due to ongoing recovery from injury.
The two-match Test series, scheduled to begin in October, is part of India’s preparation for the next cycle of the World Test Championship. The squad reflects a blend of experience and emerging talent, with selectors opting for stability in the batting order and versatility in the bowling attack.
Captain Rohit Sharma will lead the side, supported by Jadeja as his deputy. The selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, cited Jadeja’s consistent performance and leadership qualities as reasons for his elevation to vice captaincy.
Rishabh Pant, who has been sidelined since his car accident in late 2022, was expected to make a return this season. However, medical assessments have ruled him out of the West Indies tour, with the team management choosing to continue with KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan as wicketkeeping options.
Karun Nair’s exclusion comes after a string of underwhelming performances in domestic and international fixtures. The selectors have instead placed their faith in Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan to bolster the middle order.
The bowling unit remains largely unchanged, with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravichandran Ashwin forming the core attack. Young pacer Mukesh Kumar has retained his spot following impressive outings in recent series.
The full squad for the West Indies Tests is as follows:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ravindra Jadeja (Vice Captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KS Bharat (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, and Prasidh Krishna.
The first Test will be played at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, followed by the second Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica. The series is expected to be a crucial test of India’s bench strength and strategic depth ahead of a packed international calendar.
