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Middle-order batsman Karun Nairâ€s Test career may have come to an end after the 33-year-old was dropped from Indiaâ€s Test setup as the BCCI announced Indiaâ€s 15-man squad for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

Starting October 2 in Ahmedabad, India will host the West Indies, led by Roston Chase, for a two-match Test series, with the second fixture slated for Delhi from October 10. This is the first home Test series for Shubman Gill as Indiaâ€s Test skipper.

The BCCI has trimmed down the expanded squad that travelled to England earlier. From that, the exclusions are Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, and Anshul Kamboj. Pant is ruled out of this series due to the fractured toe he sustained in the Manchester Test. Ravindra Jadeja is the vice-captain for the IND vs WI Test series.

The two players who are added to the squad, or rather make their returns, are Axar Patel and Devdutt Padikkal. Padikkal, who played a Test match last year in Dharamsala against England and hit a fifty on his Test debut and then featured in the Perth Test, missed out on the England tour due to an injury he suffered during the IPL.

IND vs WI: Why Karun Nair Is Dropped From West Indies Test Series Squad?

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explicitly mentioned that Nair failed to live up to the selectors†expectations on the tour of England, managing 205 runs in four Tests, with a best score of 57, in what was a high-scoring series. Agarkar said that Padikkal, who replaces Nair in the squad, can currently offer “a little bit more†than Nair.

Agarkar said on Nairâ€s exclusion, “We expected more from Karun. Padikkal offers a little bit more at this point. Wish we could give everyone 15-20 Tests, unfortunately it doesnâ€t work that way.

“Padikkal was in the Test squad in Australia, played against England in Dharamsala, got a fifty there. Heâ€s shown some decent form. Frankly, we expected a bit more from Karun.â€

Nair has been out of action since the England tour due to an injury, while Padikkal returned from his injury and made his opportunities count: in the Duleep Trophy semi-final, he hit a fifty, and against Australia A, he slammed a knock of 150 runs, top-scoring in the match.

With Padikkal being only 25 years old, compared to the 33-year-old Nair, the scales tipped towards the youngster. For Nair, this is likely the end of his journey with the Indian Test team, his comeback after eight years lasting only one Test series.

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India squad for West Indies Tests Announced:In a selection call that underscores both opportunity and consequence, India have recalled Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Reddy for the upcoming two-Test home series against West Indies. The 15-member squad, announced on Thursday, will be led by Shubman Gill, with Ravindra Jadeja named vice-captain in the continued absence of Rishabh Pant.

Pant, recovering from a foot fracture sustained during the final Test at Old Trafford, remains unavailable, leaving India once again leaning on a combination of youth and returning form to steady the middle order. Among the notable omissions are Karun Nair and Abhimanyu Easwaran, two names that have now become almost synonymous with the fringes of Indian Test selection.

Nair, 33, has paid the price for a modest return on his England comeback, having managed just 205 runs at 25.62 across four Tests, including a solitary fifty at The Oval. In contrast, Padikkal has edged his way back into the squad with weight of runs, most recently a 150 for India ‘A’ against Australia ‘A’, following a hamstring layoff. His last Test appearance came in Perth late last year.

Nitish Reddy also returns after a knee injury cut short his England tour. His inclusion shores up the seam-bowling all-rounder slot, offering a versatile option in a squad that tilts heavily toward spin for subcontinental conditions.

“Selections are a mix of faith and form,†Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar said. “Karun had the platform, but you need to make the most of it at this level.â€

Indeed, while Easwaran warmed the bench through five Tests in England, selectors felt no need for a reserve opener in home conditions, instead favouring middle-order flexibility and all-round depth. With Pant out, wicketkeeping duties will once again fall to Dhruv Jurel and N. Jagadeesan, the latter having impressed in domestic red-ball cricket.

Despite workload concerns, Jasprit Bumrah has been named in the squad, fresh off duty at the Asia Cup, which concludes just four days before the opening Test. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna complete the pace attack. The spin contingent, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and the returning Axar Patel, reflects Indiaâ€s traditional home advantage.

While the squad features familiar names, Nairâ€s exclusion from not just the Test side but also the Irani Cup squad for the Rest of India raises larger questions about his standing. That match, against Ranji champions Vidarbha, will feature several Test hopefuls, including Akash Deep, Khaleel Ahmed, and Anshul Kamboj.

For Padikkal and Nitish, the West Indies series offers a timely stage. For others, it may already be curtains.

India squad for West Indies Tests:

Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel,  N. Jagadeesan (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah

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