India have announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies, with several major selection decisions grabbing attention.
The three-match ODI series will begin on September 27, followed by a five-match T20I series starting October 6. The selections also mark another important stage in India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Return
The biggest talking point from the India squad for West Indies series is the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI team.
Both veterans have been included in the 15-member squad and will feature under captain Shubman Gill. Gill will continue as India’s ODI captain, while KL Rahul has been named vice-captain.
The return of Rohit and Kohli gives India considerable experience as the team begins its preparations for the next ODI World Cup cycle.
Rishabh Pant Misses Out
Rishabh Pant has not been selected for the ODI series.
Instead, Dhruv Jurel has been included alongside KL Rahul as the wicketkeeping options.
Pant will, however, captain the Rest of India side in the upcoming Irani Cup.
His absence from the ODI squad is one of the most notable decisions made by the selectors.
Hardik Pandya Also Missing
Hardik Pandya is another major name missing from India’s West Indies squads. The all-rounder has been working his way back after an injury layoff and has not been selected for either the ODI or T20I series.
Pandya is expected to feature for India A against Australia A as part of his return to competitive cricket.
Ravindra Jadeja Returns to ODI Cricket
Ravindra Jadeja has also made his return to the ODI squad. The experienced all-rounder was not selected for India’s previous ODI assignments but is now back in the team.
His inclusion provides India with another experienced option in both the batting and bowling departments.
Two Players Receive Maiden ODI Call-Ups
The selectors have also introduced two new faces.
Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi have received their maiden ODI call-ups.
Naman has impressed with his performances in domestic cricket and the IPL, while Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has been rewarded for his performances in English county cricket.
Their inclusion adds fresh options to India’s squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle.
Yashasvi Jaiswal Returns
Yashasvi Jaiswal has also been included in the ODI squad.
The left-handed opener joins Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad in a strong batting group.
Ruturaj has also returned to the ODI setup after missing recent international assignments.
India ODI Squad vs West Indies
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (C) | Batter |
| Rohit Sharma | Batter |
| Virat Kohli | Batter |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batter |
| KL Rahul (VC) | Batter/Wicketkeeper |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner |
| Prasidh Krishna | Fast Bowler |
| Gurnoor Brar | Fast Bowler |
| Mohammed Siraj | Fast Bowler |
| Auqib Nabi | Fast Bowler |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter |
| Naman Dhir | All-rounder |
The squad was officially announced by the BCCI on September 16.
ALSO READ:- Upcoming Cricket Stadiums in India: Complete List of New Stadiums
What About the T20I Squad?
The T20I team looks considerably different.
Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, with Tilak Varma named vice-captain. One of the biggest attractions will be teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has been selected for the five-match series.
India T20I squad vs West Indies 2026 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) |
| Abhishek Sharma |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Ishan Kishan (wk) |
| Sanju Samson (wk) |
| Tilak Varma (vc) |
| Shivam Dube |
| Kuldeep Yadav |
| Axar Patel |
| Washington Sundar |
| Ravi Bishnoi |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| Arshdeep Singh |
| Prince Yadav |
| Mayank Yadav |
ALSO READ:- IPL Teams Want BBL Franchises, But These Problems Could Stop the Deal
India vs West Indies Schedule
India’s white-ball campaign against West Indies will begin with three ODIs.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | September 27 | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 2nd ODI | September 30 | Guwahati |
| 3rd ODI | October 3 | New Chandigarh |
| 1st T20I | October 6 | Lucknow |
| 2nd T20I | October 9 | Ranchi |
| 3rd T20I | October 11 | Indore |
| 4th T20I | October 14 | Hyderabad |
| 5th T20I | October 17 | Bengaluru |
The schedule has been confirmed by the BCCI.
India Begin Another World Cup-Building Phase
The ODI series will be particularly significant because India are now building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Gill remains at the helm, while the return of Rohit and Kohli adds experience to the squad.
At the same time, the selections of Jaiswal, Jurel, Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi show that the selectors are also continuing to develop options for the future.
With several major names competing for places, the West Indies series could provide important clues about India’s ODI combination heading towards the World Cup.
The first ODI will be played on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram.
