India vs West Indies 2025 1st Test Match Potential Best Playing 11
With Rishabh Pant ruled out of the series, let’s explore the India vs West Indies 2025 1st Test match potential best playing 11 for both teams.
The Indian Cricket team’s golden run continues as they win back-to-back multi-nation tournaments. After winning the T20 World Cup in 2024, the team went on to win the Champions Trophy in 2025, and then went on to win the Asia Cup in 2025 by defeating Pakistan. It was a dominant performance from the Indian team this Asia Cup as they remain undefeated in all 7 matches of the tournament. A wonderful team performance from India, but Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav stood out the most.
After the craze of the T20 format Asia Cup 2025, we are now in whites as India take on West Indies in a 2-match Test series. The series is just a few days away, and Shubman Gill and co will have to fly back at the earliest to join the team. Shubman Gill, who recently took over as the Test team Captain, will have his second challenge in front of him. The team performed really well in England, so they would like to continue the winning momentum in the West Indies series as well.
The 2-match Test series vs West Indies is a part of the WTC cycle 2025-27, and thus carries important weightage. Given that the West Indies aren’t the strongest tea around, India would not take anything less than 2-0 victory. But what’s the team combination they will play for this series? Well, let’s look at the current squad for the Indian Cricket Team, and find out the potential best playing 11 for the India vs West Indies 2025 1st Test match.
Key Match Details
Tour Details: West Indies Tour of India 2025
Match Details: India vs West Indies 1st Test Match
Where: Ahmedabad
When: October 02 – 06, 2025, 9:30 am IST Onwards
India vs West Indies 2025 Test Squad Decoded
The Indian team’s squad for the West Indies series sees a few changes compared to what we had seen for the England series. Since the Test series will be played at home, India decided to strengthen the spin department, and considering that, the team has added Axar Patel to the side. In the process, the team dropped Shardul Thakur, who, anyway, was not needed for the home Test series.
Other than this important change, the team added Devdutt Padikkal in place of Karun Nair. Team India expected more from Karun Nair in the England series, but he did disappoint in the opportunities he got. So, instead of Karun, India decided to add the Man-in-form Devdutt Padikkal, who was impressive in the recent Australia A series. These two were the major changes from the overall squad standpoint.
Moreover, Team India will be without their best wicket-keeper batter, Rishabh Pant, who is yet to recover from the toe injury he sustained during the England series. So, in place of Rishabh Pant, India decided to continue with N Jagadeesan, who was also added as a cover during the England Test series. The team will also see Jasprit Bumrah in the side, as India decided not to rest Jasprit Bumrah for this series.
India vs West Indies 2025 Test Series Official Squad and Players List
Batters
- Devdutt Padikkal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
Wicket-keepers
- Dhruv Jurel
- N Jagadeesan
All-rounders
- Axar Patel
- Nitish Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Washington Sundar
Bowlers
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
Having seen the updated squad, the most important question for Team India will be the kind of combination they play for the 1st Test match. If we talk about the confirmed positions, we have a solid top 4 in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, and Shubman Gill. Since Rishabh Pant isn’t playing, Dhruv Jurel will be the primary wicket-keeper. In the bowling department, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj are the confirmed ones.
This leaves us with two positions, and this is where the combination will come into play. The team will have to see how they replace Karun Nair’s number 5-6 spot. India have two options for it. Either they can go with a stable batter like Devdutt Padikkal, or play a batting AR in the form of Nitish Reddy. It will be an interesting call, but if India were to play Nitish, that can be at the expense of Siraj, but not a pure batter.
Now, the other important question will be whether India decide to go with a spin all-rounder in the form of Axar Patel, or an attacking spinner in the form of Kuldeep Yadav. This is a very important question, and there is no right approach to it. However, an attacking bowler like Kuldeep would be a better choice, since India already have 8 strong batters in the side. So, it’s unfortunate, but Axar will have to miss out since Sundar has cemented his place as the second spin AR.
India vs West Indies 2025 1st Test Match Potential Best Playing 11
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
India vs WI 2025 Test Series Official Squad List for West Indies
Batters
- Alick Athanaze
- Brandon King
- Kevlon Anderson
- Tagenarine Chanderpaul
WKs
- Shai Hope
- Tevin Imlach
All-rounders
- John Campbell
- Justin Greaves
- Roston Chase (c)
Bowlers
- Alzarri Joseph
- Anderson Phillip
- Jayden Seales
- Jomel Warrican (vc)
- Khary Pierre
- Shamar Joseph
Talking about the West Indies team, we should see a young and inexperienced team led by Roston Chase. Brandon King and Kevlon Anderson should open the batting with Roston Chase, Alick Athanaze, and Tagnarine Chanderpaul following them. Shai Hope shall donn the wicket-keeping duties, whereas the bowling shall mostly rely on John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, and Jayden Seales.
India vs West Indies 2025 1st Test Match Potential Best Playing 11 for WI
- Brandon King
- Kevlon Anderson
- Roston Chase
- Alick Athanaze
- Tagenarine Chanderpaul
- Shai Hope
- John Campbell
- Justin Greaves
- Jomel Warrican
- Shamar Joseph
- Jayden Seales
So, that’s about the potential best playing 11 for India vs West Indies 2025 1st Test match. Overall, India are a pretty strong team to beat at home, and the only win for West Indies shall be if they are able to give a tough fight to the Indian team. Meanwhile, what’s your playing 11 for India for the 1st Test match vs West Indies? Please share your thoughts on business@cricalytics.com.
