India’s selectors have named their squad for the two-Test series against West Indies, starting 2 October in Ahmedabad, and there is one clear message from chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar: last year’s 3-0 home defeat by New Zealand cannot be allowed to repeat itself.
“Of course, because of the WTC [World Test Championship], every Test match becomes very important,” Agarkar said while unveiling the list on Monday. “Obviously, we had a terrible series against New Zealand. Maybe it was a wake-up call. It was a lesson. We don’t want that repeated. We’ve generally been, over a long time, very strong at home. It was after a while that we had a few bad results. And we want to try and put it behind.”
He underlined the importance of the four forthcoming Tests – two each against West Indies and South Africa – in the WTC standings. “All these four Test matches that we play at home, to West Indies and to South Africa, become very critical. We want to try and get as many points as possible, particularly at home. It’s a game, so anything is possible. But we don’t want to try and let what happened against New Zealand happen again.”
Search for stability at No. 3
India’s one-down position, once the preserve of Rahul Dravid and later Cheteshwar Pujara, has felt unsettled over the past twelve months. For now, the spot belongs to B Sai Sudharsan, and Agarkar hopes that remains the case for a while.
“Eventually, it’s a little bit about continuity,” he explained. “I think there were a few changes at No. 3 [in England], because of the combination that we played… So that just depends on what the captain and the coach at that point want, and what balance they want. But as far as going forward is concerned, Sai has shown a lot of promise. We know he’s a very good player. Hopefully, we can give him a longish run from now on, at a particular number. Hopefully, going forward, we can give these guys time to actually build their careers.”
Sudharsan’s case is supported by 140 runs in three Tests in England and back-to-back fifties for India A against Australia A this month. The left-hander’s compact style has impressed coaches, while his patience suits the tempo required at No. 3, the position that walks in when the first wicket falls.
Padikkal moves to the middle order
With Karun Nair omitted and Rishabh Pant still recovering from injury, Devdutt Padikkal is in line for a middle-order berth, most likely at No. 5. The 24-year-old struck 150 for India A in Lucknow last week, showing he can convert starts and bat time. Padikkal began as an opener for Karnataka but has spent the past two domestic seasons reinventing himself in the middle. That versatility appeals to the selectors, who view him as cover for multiple roles.
Former India batter Sanjay Bangar believes the timing is right. “Padikkal’s game against pace has tightened up, and his back-foot options make him a handy player in Indian conditions,” he told a regional television channel. “He is also one of the better fielders around, which counts for a lot when spots are tight.”
Bowling group stays settled
There are no surprises among the seamers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar retain their places, with left-arm spinner Axar Patel joining R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in a familiar spin trio. Agarkar hinted that the attack will rotate only if surfaces dictate, adding that experience is valued in a WTC cycle that punishes slip-ups.
Reading between the lines
Agarkar’s comments suggest the panel is chasing continuity almost as much as victories. The experiment-heavy 2024-25 season, highlighted by those New Zealand defeats, has nudged them towards clearly defined roles: Sudharsan parked at three, Padikkal waiting at five, and few moving pieces elsewhere unless form absolutely demands it.
Mistakes will still happen – “It’s a game, so anything is possible,” as Agarkar reminded – but the selectors appear determined not to engineer instability themselves. An in-form West Indies side provides the first test of that resolve in just over a week’s time.
