India’s Test squad for West Indies in jeopardy amid BCCI turmoil

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently restructuring its selection panel, with two new selectors set to be appointed. Notably, the announcement of India’s Test squad for the upcoming West Indies series is likely to be delayed, with the decision expected only in the final week of September.

India is set to host the West Indies for a two-match Test series in October. It will be India's first home red-ball assignment since Shubman Gill was named captain. The young opener, who recently guided the team past England, will be leading the national side on home soil for the very first time across any format.

BCCI Selection Committee to Get Two New Members

Ajit Agarkar will continue as chairman of the BCCI Selection Committee, but two members of the current panel are expected to be replaced, with Shiv Sundar Das, Subroto Banerjee, or Sridharan Sharath among those likely to make way.

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The interview process for new selectors generally takes around two weeks, which could delay the squad announcement. Notably, the selection committee currently includes Agarkar, Das, Banerjee, Ajay Ratra, and Sharath.

“We still have a month to go, and since this is a home series, it won’t be an issue. The ideal situation would be to onboard the new selectors before announcing the Test squad. But if the process takes time, the current committee will announce the squad in the second or third week,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.

India Set to Face West Indies in October Test Series Following England Draw

India will return to red-ball cricket in October for the two-match series against the West Indies, following their 2-2 draw in the five-match series against England.

The first game will be played from October 2 to 6 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, while the second will take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi from October 10 to 14.

During the England tour, the selectors named a 21-member squad, including injury replacements, with 16 players featuring in at least one match across the series. This gave the selectors plenty of options and performances to assess.

While several players impressed with their contributions, a few failed to deliver results. These underperformers now face the risk of being dropped when the squad is announced for the upcoming West Indies series.

India’s West Indies Test Squad is Likely by the Third Week of September

If the interview process for the new panel is delayed due to the festive month of September, the current committee may finalize the squad by the third week. The team is expected to remain largely unchanged from the England tour.

Shreyas Iyer and Karun Nair are likely to spark major debates. Jasprit Bumrah’s availability will also be a talking point, given his Asia Cup workload.

Nair, who earned a recall after a stellar domestic season, underperformed in England, scoring just one half-century in eight innings on batting-friendly tracks. Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal are also waiting for opportunities.

Rishabh Pant is still recovering from a fractured foot and has yet to walk without a cast, making him doubtful for the West Indies series. Dhruv Jurel might become the primary wicketkeeper, while Ishan Kishan and N Jagadeesan remain in contention as backup keepers.

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