India vs West Indies Tests: Squad Announcement Likely Delayed Amid Selection Committee Changes
The Indian cricket team will briefly switch focus to T20Is for the Asia Cup 2025 but will quickly return to red-ball cricket. The IND vs WI Test series, part of the World Test Championship cycle is set to start on October 2, just four days after the Asia Cup final. However, the squad announcement for the series may be delayed until the last week of September, as the BCCI is still finalising the new selection committee.
Ajit Agarkar will continue as the chairman of the BCCI Selection Committee, but two new selectors are expected to come in. It’s not yet confirmed who will be replaced, though Shiv Sundar Das, Subroto Banerjee or Sridharan Sharath are the likely names. With these changes pending, the squad announcement could be pushed back, as the interview process for new selectors usually takes around two weeks to finish.
“We still have a month to go, and since this is a home series, it won’t be an issue. The ideal situation would be to onboard the new selectors before announcing the Test squad. But if the process takes time, the current committee will announce the squad in the second or third week,” a BCCI official told.
Key Performers Likely to Retain Their Spots
India will return to Test cricket in October for a two-match series against the West Indies, right after their 2-2 draw in the five-Test series against England. The opening Test will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad from October 2 to 6, followed by the second at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi from October 10 to 14.
During the England series, the selectors had named a 21-member squad, including injury replacements with 16 players getting game time. While many players made strong contributions, a few underperformed and now face the possibility of being left out when the squad for the West Indies series is announced.
Karun Nair’s Struggles Continue Despite Domestic Success
If the new selection panel’s interviews get delayed due to the September festive season, the current committee may announce the squad by the third week. The team is expected to look similar to the one that faced England, though a few names could spark debate. Shreyas Iyer’s form and Karun Nair’s spot will likely be discussed, while Jasprit Bumrah’s workload after the Asia Cup will also be a key factor.
Nair, who earned his comeback after a strong domestic season, failed to impress in England with just one half-century in eight innings on good batting tracks. Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal are also waiting for a chance. On the wicketkeeping front, Rishabh Pant’s recovery from a fractured foot makes him doubtful, as he has not yet walked without a cast. Dhruv Jurel could be the first-choice keeper, with Ishan Kishan and N Jagadeesan in the mix as backups.
