Ravindra Jadeja named vice captain for India’s Test squad vs West Indies as Rishabh Pant misses out

India's Test squad for the West Indies series has experienced a major change in leadership, as veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will now be vice-captain of the Test squad, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been left out of the squad. While Shubman Gill remains captain, Jadeja will be more involved in the role as Pant recovers from a foot injury, due to being struck by a yorker during the England Tests and subsequently fracturing his foot. The team's management has put faith in Jadeja’s all-round experience in the game. Meanwhile, Pant has also not zeroed in on a time frame for his return, so Dhruv Jurel will take the gloves in the West Indies series. Jadeja taking the role of vice-captain conveys his stature within the team, and the need for a trusted senior player to assist Gill, especially in high-pressure situations.

The India Test side of  15 players is a good combination of youth and experience. Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, and Devdutt Padikkal add potential energy to the group, while Gill, Jadeja, Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Siraj will add experience and composure. The selection committee appears to have blended form and fitness levels, while keeping considerations regarding long-term thinking. On the other hand, the West Indies squad has some familiar faces in Roston Chase, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and Alzarri Joseph, adding to what should be a competitive series. India faced West Indies at home last in a Test series in 2018, where they comfortably won both games. The West Indies have not won a Test match in India since 1994, demonstrating how the home side has been so dominant in the longest format of the game.

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As the series gets underway, all eyes will be on the new leadership pairing of Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja, and on how well India can complete yet another clean sweep. Jadeja's appointment as vice-captain is a clear statement regarding India's faith in him as a leader. Jadeja's temperament for pressure conditions, understanding of tactical nuance, and value with respect to being an all-rounder make him a natural fit to support Gill. With Pant still unavailable, the team would hope that this adjustment adds to the overall structure, both strategically and mentally, when the series begins October 2, 2023, in Ahmedabad.

India’s squad for the two Tests against West Indies

Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, N Jagadeesan (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav

India vs West Indies 2025 Schedule

The tour will kick off with the first Test at the notable Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The teams will then travel to the Capital city to play the second Test at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.