Predicting India’s squad for the Test series vs West Indies

India’s Asia Cup campaign is currently underway, but their next assignment is just around the corner. A mere four days after the conclusion of the Asia Cup, which is likely to feature India in the final on September 28, the Shubman Gill-led Indian Test team will take the field for a two-match series against the West Indies. The series is set to begin on October 2, and the Indian squad is expected to be announced on Wednesday, September 24. With that announcement drawing near, here’s a look at the possible players the selectors may choose for the upcoming series.

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Players Likely to Be Picked

Among the players featuring in the Asia Cup, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah are all in contention for automatic inclusion in the Test squad. However, Bumrah's inclusion is uncertain, as there is a possibility that the selectors may rest him to manage his workload, especially with the upcoming South Africa series in mind. His absence could be a precautionary measure to ensure his fitness for more demanding series. On the other hand, while Axar Patel has not played Test cricket since February 2024, it remains to be seen whether he is still in the management’s plans. Gill and Kuldeep, however, are almost certain to be selected.

Karun Nair’s Future

There is some uncertainty surrounding Karun Nair’s place in the squad. Nair made a comeback to Test cricket after more than eight years during India’s recent tour of England but struggled to make a significant impact, scoring just 205 runs in eight innings at an average of around 25. His performance included only one fifty-plus score (57), despite getting decent starts. With players like Devdutt Padikkal, who impressed with a 150-run knock for India A against Australia A, and Nitish Kumar Reddy regaining full fitness, Nair might find himself dropped again.

Rishabh Pant’s and Shreyas Iyer unavailable

Rishabh Pant is unlikely to recover in time for the series against the West Indies. As a result, Dhruv Jurel is expected to retain his place as the first-choice wicketkeeper, with N Jagadeesan likely serving as the backup. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has taken a break from red-ball cricket to recover from his long-troubled back and is unavailable at least for this series.

India's likely Test squad for West Indies series: Shubman Gill (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, N Jagadeesan (wk), Akash Deep, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Devdutt Padikkal, Arshdeep Singh/Axar Patel.

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