IND vs WI Ahmedabad Test spotlight on India’s team balance—three all-rounders, three bowlers, but no specialist batter after number five available.
Team India started their home season on a strong note in Ahmedabad by bowling out the West Indies for a paltry total of 162 and nearly overhauling it on Day 1, losing just two wickets. While the dominance of the Indian team against the Windies is never in question but the balance and combination are.
India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, N Jagadeesan (WK), Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.
If we look at the squad that is selected for the two West Indies Tests, there are only five specialist batters and two wicket-keepers in the uncapped Jagadeesan and Dhruv Jurel. They have decided to go with four all-rounders, and three of them are playing in the Ahmedabad Test match.
Why is this a poor squad selection?
As a result of the 15 selected, there are only five batters to select from, and the team management has decided to go with four of them. Devdutt Padikkal is the batter who, unfortunately, didn’t get a spot in the playing XI.
This has left India with six bowling options, and among them, there are three genuine all-rounders, including a third pace option in Nitish Reddy. Now this brings in a question: what role will Nitish Kumar play in the Indian conditions, especially with senior pros like Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah being in the XI? Seldom has India played with more than two pacers in home conditions, and it hasn’t happened during the times when Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli led the Test side.
In his place, India could have played a genuine batter like Rajat Patidar or Padikkal, or any other player from the vast pool of talented batters that have. But instead, for some reason, they have decided to slot an all-rounder as early as in the No.6 slot. While Nitish has done reasonably well in the chances given, he isn’t either a pure batter or a bowler.
This may not change the result as far as the result in the current series or match is concerned, but could impact when they play a stronger side like Australia or South Africa at home.
Read More: IND vs WI 2025-26, 1st Test, Day 1: Siraj & Bumrah limit West Indies to 162; India 121-2 at stumps
What could be the possible reason for this squad selection?
There are two aspects to look into. The first one is that India wants to give as many chances as possible at home to the pace attack before travelling to away conditions. But it defies logic as very rarely we see two spinners, let alone three spinners, playing in SENA conditions. So the current combination won’t work when they travel to non-spin-friendly countries.
The other probable reason could be India going away with rank turners at home. On the first day, there was a lot of appreciable pace and bounce for India’s pacers, and the spinners had very little. This is a change from the last couple of home Test seasons, where the surfaces predominantly assisted spin from Day 1.
On such surfaces, playing three pacers could be ideal, but even then, including one more specialist batter would be the ideal way to proceed.
Read More: India suffered 0-3 whitewash against NZ at home last year; How could they get back to winning ways
