The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is on the verge of announcing the Indian squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies. The selection is expected to be completed in an online meeting held on September 23 or 24. The series will commence on October 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with the second Test scheduled for October 10 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This series will mark Shubman Gill's first home campaign as the Test captain, following a 2-2 draw in the recent series in England.

One of the key discussions revolves around the selection of middle-order batsmen, specifically the choice between Shreyas Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal, especially with Karun Nair's recent performance under scrutiny.

The Case for Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal has emerged as a strong contender for a spot in the Test squad, fueled by his impressive performances in domestic cricket. Most recently, he scored a notable 150 against Australia A in Lucknow. Since the Duleep Trophy, Padikkal has amassed 223 runs at an impressive average of 111.5. His inclusion would inject fresh energy into India's middle order, rewarding his consistent performances. Padikkal had a good IPL 2025 season, scoring 247 runs in 11 matches, with a highest score of 61.

The Dilemma with Karun Nair

Karun Nair's return to international cricket during the England tour didn't quite meet expectations. In the four Tests he played, Nair scored 205 runs at a modest average of 25.63, including a single half-century. Selectors have expressed concerns regarding both the quantity of runs and the manner of his dismissals. While Nair had a good domestic season that led to his selection for the England tour, his performance in those series was not up to the mark. He was given the opportunity due to the absence of players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.

Shreyas Iyer's Credentials

Shreyas Iyer's possible inclusion adds another dimension to the selection. In IPL 2025, Iyer played 17 matches and scored 551 runs with a highest score of 97. Iyer also played 8 ODI matches in 2025, scoring 424 runs with a highest score of 79. He has shown the ability to perform well against spin, which could be valuable in the likely conditions against the West Indies.

Likely Squad Composition

Shubman Gill will lead the side, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul expected to open the innings. Sai Sudharsan is also expected to be in the squad. Dhruv Jurel is set to take the wicket-keeping duties, with Rishabh Pant still recovering. The spin attack will likely be led by Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav, with Axar Patel also in contention. Mohammed Siraj is expected to lead the pace attack, with Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested and Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep potentially getting opportunities. Narayan Jagadeesan could be included as a reserve wicketkeeper and a third opener.

The West Indies squad includes experienced players such as Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze, with Khary Pierre included as a spinner. Gudakesh Motie has been rested.