7 Players Dropped From India’s Squad For West Indies Series Despite Featuring In The England Tests

The drama of India’s grueling Test series against England is barely behind us, yet the selectors have wasted no time in ringing the changes. With a packed home season and the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle firmly in their sights, the BCCI Senior Men’s Selection Committee has unveiled the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies, beginning on October 2.

The announcement has made headlines for its bold calls and high-profile exclusions. Seven players who travelled to England with the Indian Test squad have failed to make the cut for the West Indies series. Some exits were forced by injuries, while others reflected form, fitness, or the selectors’ long-term vision.

For the players left out, it is a bitter pill, while for the new entrants it is a golden ticket to stake their claim on home soil. Let’s take a closer look at the changes, the reasons behind them, and what it means for India’s red-ball roadmap.

The Seven Players Missing Out

1. Karun Nair: A Comeback That Never Clicked

Karun Nair’s name was among the most discussed when the England tour squad was announced earlier this year. After an eight-year absence from the Test team, his return was billed as a story of redemption. But cricket is a cruel game.

In four Tests, Nair managed 205 runs at an average of 25.62, with a highest score of 57 at The Oval. While he frequently got starts, his inability to convert 30s and 40s into match-defining innings hurt both his case and India’s middle order.

Selectors opted for Devdutt Padikkal, who impressed in the India A setup and looks ready for a bigger stage. For Nair, the dream comeback fizzled, leaving him once again in the wilderness.

2. Shardul Thakur: The Unused All-Rounder

Shardul Thakur, affectionately known as Lord Thakur, has often been India’s go-to utility player. But in England he did not play a single Test.

His omission for the West Indies series seems more strategic than form-based. On Indian pitches, selectors may have felt his medium pace and lower-order hitting were not essential. With a crowded pace-bowling all-rounder pool including Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube (who are being groomed across formats), Shardul finds himself edged out.

While still in India’s larger plans, he will have to fight his way back with consistent domestic and IPL performances.

3. Rishabh Pant: Injury Setback Halts Momentum

No exclusion caused as much disappointment as Rishabh Pant’s. His aggressive batting and wicketkeeping flair make him one of India’s most valuable assets.

Unfortunately, during the Manchester Test, Pant fractured his foot attempting an audacious reverse sweep on Day 1. He was ruled out of the remainder of the series and is now under rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru.

The selectors have been cautious, resisting the urge to rush him back. With no return timeline confirmed, India will continue with alternatives like Dhruv Jurel and Sanju Samson in the immediate future. Pant’s place is safe once he is fit, but for now, India must adapt.

4. Abhimanyu Easwaran: From Bench to Irani Cup

For Abhimanyu Easwaran, the England tour was a frustrating experience. Despite being in the squad, he never broke into the playing XI.

Rather than keep him idle again, the selectors have handed him a crucial role in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup. This gives Easwaran a chance to prove himself in competitive domestic conditions.

The message is clear: Easwaran remains in contention, but performances in domestic cricket will decide his future in Tests.

5. Anshul Kamboj: Waiting for the Big Debut

Young pacer Anshul Kamboj travelled with the squad to England as part of India’s bench strength. Though he did not get a debut, the selectors view him as a long-term project.

For the West Indies series, they have redirected him to the Irani Cup to ensure he gains more exposure. This move reflects a larger philosophy: letting promising youngsters earn their stripes in high-intensity domestic tournaments before handing them Test caps.

6. Akash Deep: Grooming for the Future

Like Kamboj, Akash Deep was a reserve bowler in England. With India boasting a wealth of pace options, he too did not get a chance in the XI.

For the home series against West Indies, he is left out of the main squad but included in the Rest of India lineup. As a spearhead there, he will have the opportunity to lead the pace attack and sharpen his skills for future international assignments.

7. Arshdeep Singh: Shifted to White-Ball Assignments

Arshdeep Singh, fresh from becoming the fastest pacer to 100 T20I wickets, was part of India’s Test reserves in England.

However, instead of featuring in the Test squad for the West Indies series, he has been placed in the India A squad for the Australia A one-day series. This seems a deliberate strategy: Arshdeep is seen as more crucial to India’s white-ball future, especially with the Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup cycles coming up.

Selectors’ Balancing Act: What Do These Exits Mean?

The common thread in these exclusions is role clarity and long-term planning.

Form and performance: Karun Nair’s failures made way for Padikkal.
Injury: Pant is sidelined but remains first-choice when fit.
Game time: Easwaran, Kamboj, and Akash Deep are shifted to the Irani Cup for valuable exposure.
Strategic fit: Shardul and Arshdeep are being redirected depending on conditions and formats.

The selectors are keen to avoid bloated squads where players warm the bench for weeks. Instead, they want their reserves to get match practice and stay sharp.

India’s Approach for the West Indies Series

With home conditions in their favour, India are expected to rely heavily on spin dominance backed by a stable batting core. The return of in-form players like Devdutt Padikkal and the presence of seasoned campaigners ensures balance.

The spotlight will also be on emerging names who have impressed in India A games and domestic cricket, signalling a new wave of red-ball talent ready to carry the baton.

Impact on the Players Dropped

For each of the seven, this selection call is not necessarily the end:

Karun Nair: Needs a mountain of domestic runs to revive his career.
Shardul Thakur: Could return in overseas tours where seam-bowling all-rounders are vital.
Pant: Will walk back into the XI when fit.
Easwaran, Kamboj, Akash Deep: Irani Cup provides them a shop window to impress.
Arshdeep: His white-ball focus may see him sidelined in red-ball cricket, but doors remain open.

What Lies Ahead?

India’s home season includes West Indies, South Africa, and Australia in Tests, plus the WTC 2025–27 cycle. Selectors are prioritizing workload management, injury prevention, and building a pipeline.

The message to players is clear: perform consistently, adapt to roles, and you will be rewarded.

The shake-up ahead of the West Indies Test series highlights India’s ruthless yet pragmatic selection approach. By dropping seven players from the England tour, the selectors have signalled that past reputation alone is not enough; current form, fitness, and future planning matter most.

For fans, the changes add intrigue to the upcoming series. Will Padikkal seize his chance? Can the bowling unit dominate without some familiar faces? How soon will Rishabh Pant return?

As the Asia Cup drama continues in the UAE, Indian Test cricket is quietly preparing for its next chapter at home. With the stakes high in the WTC cycle, every selection, every omission, and every run scored could shape the path to the final in 2027.

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