India vs West Indies 2023: Test Squad Players List for Team India

Cheteshwar Pujara expected to be dropped as we look at the confirmed best Test squad and players list for India vs West Indies 2023. 

Please note, the official Squad is shared here. The below-mentioned article is a predicted squad.

Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Rohit Sharma (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (wk) & KS Bharat (wk), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar & Navdeep Saini.

After a disappointing end to the second edition of the World Test Championship, WTC 2021-23 having lost the final against Australia, Team India would be beginning the WTC 2023-25 cycle with the West Indies series. The 2-match Test series as it always shall begin on July 12 and will end on July 24.

The BCCI is yet to announce the squad for the Test series, and seeing the performance in the final in the last WTC cycle, there will be a lot of tough decisions that the BCCI will have to make. For example, will Cheteshwar Pujara be persisted for one final time? Will WTC Final Adhoc player, Ajnkya Rahane get a nod in the upcoming series?

Well, there are a lot of questions that BCCI will answer when they release the official squad. But before that, let’s look at the probable 16-member squad for Team India that could get a nod in the 2023 Test series vs West Indies. As usual, we will break the squad analysis into Batters, WKs, All-rounders, and Bowlers. 

Batters

Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli & Yashasvi Jaiswal

The biggest headache that BCCI will face while selecting the squad for the West Indies series will be the selection of batters. The biggest question would be will India persist with Pujara? This is a golden question, and it is quite subjective as well. Team India have been quite patient with Pujara in the last WTC cycle even as his returns have been quite ordinary. 

Pujara was expected to lead the batting in the WTC final having had an abundance of experience in the County championship just before the WTC final. But to our disappointment, Pujara failed in both the innings. Now, West Indies aren’t so strong, and if Pujara scores well here, India may have to persist with him for another 2-3 series.

The only challenge would be for India to not fall in the trap. The Test specialist, Pujara has been giving poor returns for the last 3-4 years now. Except for Indian and Australian pitches, Pujara has been ordinary in Test matches. Seeing the current situation, India may finally let go of Pujara, and add a youngster in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad, who could bat at number 3.   

Another question would be on Ajinkya Rahane’s selection. Well, Rahane was selected abruptly for a 1-off test match. Since he did well, India may give Rahane a rope for 2-3 series at least. In addition, since the WTC squad had 15 members, India may select Suryakumar Yadav, who was a part of the reserves.  

WKs

Ishan Kishan & KS Bharat

The absence of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant means Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat shall be persisted in the keeping department. There is no other alternative in the Domestic circuit that can replace these two. So, call it a lack of options or planning, Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat are the best two keepers that we have who can play Test cricket.  

All-rounders

Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja & Shardul Thakur

Coming to the all-rounders, Team India will persist with the same quartet of Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Shardu Thakur. These four were a part of the WTC Final squad, and will get to display their skill on spicy wickets of West Indies. Last time around in West Indies, neither Axar nor Shardul was a part of the Test squad. 

Bowlers

Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj & Mukesh Kumar

Coming to the bowlers, the main question that Team India would face is whether Umesh Yadav is still relevant in Test matches. Umesh is already 35, and it is not that he is getting any better day by day. So, it it’s high time Team India think of the next two years, and get in Mukesh Kumar as his replacement.

Apart from him, the other three pacers should continue to be the prime pacers for Team India. While Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace duties in the absence of injured Jasprit Bumrah, Unadkat should mostly play when there’s a need for a third pacer. 

India vs West Indies 2023 Predicted Test Squad for Team India:

Batters: Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli & Yashasvi Jaiswal

WKs: Ishan Kishan & KS Bharat

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja & Shardul Thakur

Bowlers: Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj & Mukesh Kumar

So, that’s about the best predicted squad for the 2023 Test series vs West Indies. Overall, 12 players select for themselves seeing the current situation. The only debatable discussions would be on Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Meanwhile, here’s the official schedule for Team India for the Test series vs West Indies. 

India vs West Indies 2023 Test Series Schedule:

• 1st Test – July 12-16 @ Dominica, 7:30 pm IST onwards
• 2nd Test – July 20-24 @ Trinidad, 7:30 pm IST onwards

Thanks for reading! What’s your India vs West Indies 2023 Test Squad and Players List? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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