**By Suraj Alva | September 25, 2025**
The 15-man squad for the upcoming West Indies series was announced on Thursday, featuring a new vice-captain, some surprise exclusions, and the emergence of a future No. 3. Here’s everything you need to know.
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### Ravindra Jadeja Gets a New Role
Ravindra Jadeja will serve as Shubman Gill’s deputy for the two-Test series, stepping in as the new vice-captain. This change comes after Rishabh Pant was ruled out due to injury, opening up the opportunity for Jadeja to take on greater leadership responsibilities.
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### No Place for Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur
After a promising return to the squad earlier, Karun Nair has once again failed to cement his spot in the team. Similarly, Shardul Thakur has not found a place in the squad for this series, raising questions about the selectors’ plans for both players moving forward.
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### Sai Sudharsan Is India’s No. 3
Team management is showing strong faith in Sai Sudharsan, who has been identified as India’s future No. 3 batsman. According to Agarkar, Sudharsan has demonstrated a lot of promise, and the selectors are ready to give him an extended opportunity to establish himself in this critical batting position.
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### Where is Akash Deep?
Akash Deep, who bowled brilliantly on the recent England tour, was surprisingly omitted from the Test squad. Instead, he has been named in the Irani Cup squad, with Prasidh Krishna preferred for the Test series. This decision has sparked debate about team composition and strategy ahead of the West Indies Tests.
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### Faith in Nitish Reddy
Despite inconsistent recent performances, Nitish Reddy continues to retain the confidence of the selectors. They appear to believe in his long-term potential and are willing to back him through this phase of mixed form.
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### What’s Next for India?
With a crucial two-match Test series at home coming up, the big question remains: can this young core of players secure India’s first home series win against the West Indies? The series will be a key test of the team’s depth, resilience, and future prospects.
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*Credits: BCCI/X*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/ampstories/sports/india-squad-for-west-indies-test-2025-major-talking-points
