West Indies have opted for a spin-ready squad for next month’s two-Test tour of India, leaving out long-serving opener Kraigg Brathwaite and restoring Tagenarine Chanderpaul to the top of the order.
Head coach Daren Sammy made the change plain: “The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order given the recent struggles, with Alick Athanaze being added for his strengths and qualities against spin bowling,” he explained. “Khary is included for the first time as our second spinner in what we expect to be helpful conditions.”
Key points
• Brathwaite, capped 100 times, misses the 15-man squad after being benched for the final Test in Australia earlier this year.
• Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze come back to bolster a line-up designed to cope with turning pitches.
• Uncapped left-arm spinner Khary Pierre joins vice-captain Jomel Warrican in a two-spinner core.
• The first Test starts on 2 October in Ahmedabad; the squad leaves the Caribbean on 22 September.
The selections
Batting remains the main area of churn. Chanderpaul is expected to partner John Campbell up front. Athanaze, back for the first time since January’s trip to Pakistan, offers a left-hand option in the middle order. Keeper-batter Shai Hope and skipper Roston Chase provide the senior spine, with Kevlon Anderson, Justin Greaves, Brandon King and Tevin Imlach completing the batting reserves.
Sammy and the panel have also looked closely at spin. Pierre’s haul of 41 first-class wickets at 13.56 in the recent West Indies Championship forced their hand. With Warrican’s steady left-arm orthodox and Chase’s off-breaks, the tourists will not be short of slow-bowling options on the traditionally dry Indian surfaces.
Seam duties fall to Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip. All four touched 140 kph during the last domestic season, yet they may spend long spells holding an old ball as conditions turn.
What it means for Brathwaite
The omission is striking. Brathwaite, West Indies’ stand-in captain as recently as 2024, has averaged only 22 over his last 12 innings. He now faces a tight window to force his way back before next year’s packed calendar.
Schedule squeeze
The India series is only the start. After two Tests, West Indies head straight to Bangladesh for white-ball matches, then on to New Zealand for a full tour in November-December. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Moti has therefore been rested to manage workloads before the T20 World Cup early next year.
Past experience – and limitations
Only Chase, Hope, Alzarri Joseph and Warrican played on the previous Indian tour in 2018-19. That side crumbled 2-0, struggling to reach 250 in any innings. Sammy’s current group is greener but arguably better balanced for spin. Whether the change of personnel is enough remains the central question.
Squad in full
Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shai Hope (wk), Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Kevlon Anderson, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach (wk), Khary Pierre, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales.
First impressions
There is nothing radical here, yet the combination of Chanderpaul’s patience, Athanaze’s footwork and Pierre’s left-arm spin is purpose-built for Indian conditions. If the batting holds, West Indies have enough pace and variation to compete. Fail again up front, though, and the bowlers may be chasing leather for long, hot days in Ahmedabad and beyond.
