India’s West Indies ODI squad is expected to feature Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with KL Rahul likely to serve as Shubman Gill’s deputy.
India’s selectors are expected to finalise the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies on September 16, with the Asian Games creating a major selection challenge.
Shubman Gill is expected to continue as India’s ODI captain, while experienced wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul could be appointed vice-captain in the absence of Shreyas Iyer.
The West Indies series will begin in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27 before moving to Guwahati and New Chandigarh.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Set for ODI Return
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to return to the Indian team after missing the recent T20I assignments. Both senior batters now play international cricket only in the ODI format and remain central to India’s preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
Gill is likely to retain the captaincy and could bat alongside Rohit at the top of the order. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad are reportedly also under consideration, giving the selectors several opening options.
According to a Cricbuzz report, Rohit, Kohli and Gill are expected to be available for the series.
KL Rahul Could Replace Shreyas Iyer as Vice-Captain
Shreyas Iyer is expected to miss the West Indies ODIs because he will lead India at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
In his absence, KL Rahul has emerged as the leading candidate for the ODI vice-captaincy. Rahul is also likely to remain one of India’s primary wicketkeeping options.
Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel are reportedly competing for another wicketkeeper-batter position. Pant’s experience and ability to provide a left-handed option in the middle order could work in his favour, while Jurel remains a strong alternative.
Hardik Pandya Likely to Miss West Indies Series
Hardik Pandya is unlikely to be selected for the West Indies ODIs as he continues his recovery from injury.
The all-rounder has been named in the India A squad for the one-day series against Australia A, beginning in Puducherry on October 6, subject to fitness clearance. That assignment is expected to serve as his route back to competitive cricket.
Pandya’s absence leaves India with a significant middle-order and bowling-balance problem. The selectors may have to include an additional specialist batter or bowler because there is no direct replacement for his pace-bowling all-rounder role.
The Indian Express reported that his India A selection effectively rules him out of the West Indies ODI series.
Asian Games Clash Affects India’s Selection
Several regular ODI players are expected to be unavailable because of their Asian Games commitments. The list reportedly includes Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is also expected to be involved in the Asian Games campaign, while Harshit Rana has been dealing with a hamstring injury.
The absences could open the door for Mohammed Siraj to return as a senior fast bowler. Prasidh Krishna and other domestic performers may also come into consideration.
Ravindra Jadeja could be recalled to strengthen the spin-bowling all-rounder department, particularly if Axar and Washington are unavailable. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar has also been mentioned as a possible selection.
India vs West Indies ODI Schedule
The BCCI’s official schedule confirms the following fixtures:
- First ODI: September 27, Thiruvananthapuram
- Second ODI: September 30, Guwahati
- Third ODI: October 3, New Chandigarh
All three matches are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. IST. The ODI series will be followed by five T20 internationals between October 6 and October 17.
The final squad has not yet been officially announced by the BCCI. Reported selections and availability details remain provisional until the selectors issue their formal statement.
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