HIGHLIGHTS
- 15-member squad named for the West Indies’ first test tour of India since 2018 and first away series in the new World Test Championship Cycle.
- Recalls for Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze while left arm spinner Khary Pierre earns maiden test call up.
- The selection reflects strategic planning, considering conditions in India and the opposition. Head Coach Daren Sammy and Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe emphasized a calculated approach to squad building, focusing on player suitability, continuity, and long-term development within the Test team.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced its 15-member touring squad for the October 2nd-14th, two-test series against India, with matches in Ahmedabad and Delhi.
The series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship and will be the first away fixture for the test team in the new cycle and the first test tour of India since 2018.
There are three changes from the squad which recently faced Australia, with the inclusions of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze, along with a maiden test call up for left arm spinner Khary Pierre.
Chanderpaul and Athanaze have been included to bolster the top order batting while Pierre has been included as the second specialist spinner in the squad after strong performances in the West Indies Championship, where he claimed a chart topping 41 wickets at an average of 13.56.
Alick Athanaze
The selection group has opted to rest Gudakesh Motie for this red-ball series given the demands of the upcoming limited overs schedule, the highlight being the ICC T20 World Cup in February and March of next year.
Head Coach Daren Sammy welcomes the challenge of playing against one of the top ranked teams on its home soil.
“Playing in the subcontinent always presents a challenge and we have selected a team to be competitive in these conditions.” said Sammy.
“This will be our second series together as a test team, but we have already shown what we are capable of as a unit once we are committed to our brand and plans of the team.”
Sammy added,
“The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order given the recent struggles, with Alick Athanaze being added for his strengths and qualities against spin bowling. Khary is included for the first time as our second spinner in what we expect to be helpful conditions”
Tagenarine Chanderpaul
Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe underscored the thinking behind the squad selection:
“Our approach to squad selection continues to be calculated and deliberate. We consider the opposition, the playing conditions, and the skill sets required to be successful against specific opposition. The inclusion of players has therefore been guided not only by their recent performances, but also by identifying who within our pool is best suited to deliver positive results on these surfaces, against this quality of opposition.”
“At the same time, we are conscious of building continuity and depth in our Test squad as we look to compete consistently throughout this World Test Championship cycle.”
The team departs the Caribbean on September 22 and is set to arrive in Ahmedabad on September 24.
West Indies Test Tour to India:
Roston Chase (Captain)
Jomel Warrican (Vice-Captain)
Kevlon Anderson
Alick Athanaze
John Campbell
Tagenarine Chanderpaul
Justin Greaves
Shai Hope
Tevin Imlach
Alzarri Joseph
Shamar Joseph
Brandon King
Anderson Phillip
Khary Pierre
Jayden Seales
Team Management Unit:
Head Coach: Daren Sammy
Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer
Assistant Coach (Bowling): Ravi Rampaul
Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith
Team Manager: Rawl Lewis
Physiotherapist: Neil Barry
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Ronald Rogers
Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne
Team Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram
Media Officer: Jerome Foster
FULL TOUR SCHEDULE
1st Test: 2-6 October 2025 @ Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
2nd Test: 10-14 October 2025 @ Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
