Ravindra Jadeja will serve as Shubman Gill’s right-hand man for next month’s two-match series against West Indies, the all-rounder handed Test vice-captaincy for the first time. The selectors confirmed a 15-strong group on Wednesday, keeping the core intact but tweaking around the edges to reflect form and fitness.
Key facts first
• Captain: Shubman Gill
• Vice-captain: Ravindra Jadeja
• Rishabh Pant still sidelined with a broken foot
• New faces: Devdutt Padikkal and N Jagadeesan
• Karun Nair omitted after modest returns in England
• Bumrah declared fit for both fixtures – 2 Oct Ahmedabad, 10 Oct Delhi
Pant’s absence was expected. The wicketkeeper-batter continues rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after fracturing his foot during the fourth Test at The Oval. In his place, Dhruv Jurel and N Jagadeesan are the designated keepers, Jurel likely to take the gloves on match day.
Selectors trim England tour squad
Six men who travelled to England have been let go: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh and Shardul Thakur. Abhimanyu, Akash Deep and Kamboj drop into the Rest of India side for the Irani Cup starting 1 October in Nagpur, a timely platform for red-ball overs. Fast bowler Akash Deep, nursing a minor niggle, has already reported to the CoE.
Padikkal edges Nair
The talking point is Karun Nair’s exclusion after scoring 205 runs in eight innings on that challenging English tour. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar spelled it out: “We expected more from Karun. Padikkal offers a little bit more at this point. Wish we could give everyone 15-20 Tests, unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. Padikkal was in the Test squad in Australia, played against England in Dharamsala, got a fifty there. He’s shown some decent form. Frankly, we expected a bit more from Karun.”
Nair’s case was not helped by Sarfaraz Khan’s ongoing injury; a straight swap would have been the likelier route had Sarfaraz been fit.
Spin, all-round depth
With Indian surfaces forecast to wear early, the panel have stocked up on spin-bowling all-rounders. Jadeja will be joined by Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, while Kuldeep Yadav offers the specialist wrist-spin option. Nitish Kumar Reddy travels as the pace-bowling all-rounder, adding balance to a seam attack of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Bumrah workload – now or never?
The fast-bowler missed the final Test in England amid workload concerns, yet Agarkar was unequivocal about his readiness: “This team has been picked for both the Tests, so he’s available for both Tests. We’ve had a fair break after England. He didn’t play the fifth Test either. So there’s been a five-week break. Even this tournament has been fairly spaced out till the last week. So no, he’s ready and keen to play both Test matches.”
Gill’s quiet rise
Gill will lead in just his second Test series, though signs in England suggested he is growing into the role. The 25-year-old’s tactical input impressed senior pros, and he already enjoys an uncomplicated rapport with Jadeja. That dynamic should ease on-field decision-making, especially when the pitches start to crumble and match situations flip rapidly.
West Indies challenge
West Indies arrive after an uneven home season and, on paper, India look overwhelming favourites. Yet the visitors possess a pace battery capable of bursts, and India’s batting has shown fragility against the moving ball. Early starts in Ahmedabad could still offer that, so the hosts will value solid opening stands and senior heads through the middle.
Broader WTC picture
These two Tests form India’s second assignment of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. A 1-1 draw in England gave them nine points; anything less than a home series win here would damage early momentum. Selection, therefore, felt pragmatic rather than experimental, with Padikkal and Jagadeesan the only uncapped players.
Room for growth, room for ruthlessness
Dropping Nair illustrates the current selection philosophy: depth allows rotation without sentiment. The same logic elevated Jadeja. His tactical nous, calm under pressure, and proven ability to perform on Indian soil make him a logical deputy while Pant rehabs. If both deliver, India’s leadership spine could be set for years.
India squad
Shubman Gill (capt), Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), N Jagadeesan (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
The group assembles in Ahmedabad on 26 September, a week before the first Test. For those left out, the domestic grind offers another shop window. For those selected, a small but significant chapter in a long WTC story begins.
