India are set to begin their 2026-27 home season with a white-ball series against West Indies, with the two sides scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is. The series, which starts on September 27, will serve as an important preparation ground ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Rishabh Pant in Contention for ODI Return; Hardik Pandya and Ruturaj Gaikwad Set for Selection
The BCCI is set to name the squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against the West Indies, which will run from September 27 to October 17 across eight venues. The three ODIs will be played in Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and New Chandigarh on September 27, September 30 and October 3 respectively, while the five-match T20I series will move to Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, with fixtures scheduled for October 6, 9, 11, 14 and 17.
Rishabh Pant could receive another opportunity in India’s ODI setup after missing out on recent white-ball selections. His indifferent IPL form had seen him lose his Test vice-captaincy and his place in India’s white-ball plans. However, with Ishan Kishan expected to be unavailable because of Asian Games commitments, Pant could find a route back into the 15-member ODI squad. KL Rahul remains the likely first-choice wicketkeeper, but Pant’s inclusion would give selectors another experienced option behind the stumps and in the middle order.
Jurel recently scored a century and a fifty in the Test series in Sri Lanka, and his competition with Pant, who has already established himself as something of a legend in Test cricket, will be fierce.
Hardik Pandya’s Return Among Key Selection Decisions
Hardik Pandya’s potential return will be one of the biggest talking points when India’s selectors pick the ODI and T20I squads for the West Indies series. Pandya is scheduled to return to competitive cricket and has been picked for India A’s three-match 50-over series against Australia A in Puducherry.
However, the West Indies ODIs begin in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, leaving selectors to assess whether Pandya will be ready to bowl his full quota and field for 50 overs in an international game. His availability could significantly influence India’s ODI balance.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shubman Gill Set for ODI Spots
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are set for selection in the ODIs, and it is likely that Gill will bat at No. 3 to accommodate Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. If Gill opens, Jaiswal may have to sit out.
Ruturaj Gaikwad could be handed the No. 4 position in India’s ODI batting order against the West Indies. With Shreyas Iyer expected to be unavailable because of Asian Games commitments, Gaikwad is among the leading candidates to fill the vacancy. The likely top order could feature captain Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli before Gaikwad comes in at No. 4. Gaikwad is also expected to lead India A against Australia A after the West Indies ODIs, giving him another opportunity to build momentum in 50-over cricket.
Rajat Patidar is also in contention for India’s ODI squad and could serve as the reserve middle-order batter. With Shreyas Iyer unavailable for selection because of his Asian Games involvement, the selectors are expected to consider additional batting cover. Patidar has experience in domestic one-day cricket and has previously featured for India in limited-overs cricket. His selection could also give the team another middle-order option behind the expected combination of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Mohammed Shami and Yuzvendra Chahal Unlikely to Return
Veterans Mohammed Shami and Yuzvendra Chahal are unlikely to return to India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series unless circumstances change significantly. Shami has been outside the recent ODI plans, while Chahal has also remained out of favour in the national setup.
Pace Attack to Feature Siraj, Brar and Krishna
Mohammed Siraj is expected to return to India’s ODI setup for the West Indies series after being rested from the recent ODI assignment in England. Siraj could form part of a pace group that also includes Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna and Prince Yadav, all of whom featured in India’s previous ODI series.
Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar has already represented India across formats, and he is set to be picked for the upcoming West Indies series. Brar may well be selected for both ODIs and T20Is.
The West Indies series could therefore provide another opportunity for India’s pace depth to be tested.
Ravindra Jadeja in Line for ODI Recall
Ravindra Jadeja could be in line for an ODI recall after missing India’s recent 50-over series in England. The left-arm spin all-rounder’s chances could improve because Harsh Dubey suffered an injury during Central Zone’s Duleep Trophy semi-final against East Zone. Dubey and Axar Patel were being considered among the left-arm spin options for the ODI setup. With Axar at the Asian Games and Dubey injured, selectors may turn back to Jadeja for the West Indies series in the 50-over format.
Spin Unit Faces Selective Dilemma
Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have endured difficult campaigns in ODI cricket in 2026, with both struggling to make a significant impact during India’s limited 50-over assignments. Jadeja has featured in three matches, scoring 43 runs at an average of 14.33 and a strike rate of 66.15. More concerningly, the all-rounder has remained wicketless in 23 overs, conceding runs at an economy rate of 6.13. His scores of 4, 27 and 12 have also highlighted his struggles to provide acceleration from the lower order. Following the New Zealand series, Jadeja was left out of subsequent squads, although injuries to other left-arm options could bring him back into contention.
Kuldeep, meanwhile, has played four ODIs in 2026 and taken three wickets, but at a costly bowling average of 74.67 and an economy rate of 6.40. The figures represent a difficult phase for a spinner usually relied upon to control the middle overs and provide breakthroughs. However, his struggles in ODIs have contrasted with his performances in first-class cricket. During county stints with Yorkshire, Kuldeep showcased his quality by claiming 10 wickets in a match against Essex. With upcoming assignments ahead, both players will be looking to regain consistency and strengthen their cases for selection.
Wrist-Spin Options Could Be Reshuffled by Asian Games
India’s wrist-spin options could face a major reshuffle depending on the Asian Games squad and Varun Chakravarthy’s fitness. If Kuldeep Yadav is required as a replacement for Chakravarthy in India’s Asian Games squad, he could become unavailable for the West Indies ODIs. That would leave the selectors needing to explore alternative wrist-spin options. Vipraj Nigam and Zeeshan Ansari could come into consideration if the selectors want to retain a wrist-spinner in the ODI squad, although the final combination will depend on player availability.
Varun Chakravarthy Faces Fitness Uncertainty
Varun Chakravarthy has suffered another fitness setback, with the spinner ruled out of the final two matches of India’s T20I series against Afghanistan. Chakravarthy featured in the opening game but experienced discomfort in his left lateral abdominal region while bowling, forcing him to withdraw from the remainder of the series.
His latest injury could also create a selection headache if he is unable to recover in time for the Asian Games. In that scenario, Kuldeep Yadav could come into consideration, but his absence would further reduce India’s established wrist-spin options. The selectors may then have to look towards younger alternatives such as Vipraj Nigam or Zeeshan Ansari.
Suryakumar Yadav Unlikely to Feature in T20I Squad
Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to be picked for the West Indies T20Is. He was dropped from India’s T20I setup in June, with Shreyas Iyer replacing him as captain. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited concerns over SKY’s form and the team’s plans for the next T20 World Cup cycle. The latest Afghanistan T20I squad also did not include him, suggesting the selectors have moved towards a younger core. He led India to the T20 World Cup win earlier this year, but his return to the Indian side seems unlikely.
Ajit Agarkar’s Tenure as BCCI Chief Selector Set to Conclude
According to reports, Ajit Agarkar’s stint as the chairman of the BCCI selection committee is set to conclude later this month, unless the former India all-rounder receives an extension. With no clarity yet on whether his tenure will be renewed, the upcoming squad selection could potentially be the final one conducted under Agarkar’s leadership.
Agarkar assumed the role in July 2023 and has overseen a period marked by several significant selection decisions. While some of his calls attracted considerable debate and did not always produce the expected results, a number of them ultimately paid off on the international stage. India’s success during his tenure has been particularly notable, with the team securing three ICC titles — the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy and another T20 World Cup triumph.
India vs West Indies 2026 Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st ODI | September 27 | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 2nd ODI | September 30 | Guwahati |
| 3rd ODI | October 3 | New Chandigarh |
| 1st T20I | October 6 | Lucknow |
| 2nd T20I | October 9 | Ranchi |
| 3rd T20I | October 11 | Indore |
| 4th T20I | October 14 | Hyderabad |
| 5th T20I | October 17 | Bengaluru |
The Indian squads are yet to be officially announced as of September 16. The selectors are expected to finalise both teams shortly. Hardik Pandya is unlikely to feature in the ODI series after being picked for India A’s ODI assignment against Australia A, subject to fitness.
Predicted India ODI squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajat Patidar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar
Predicted India T20I squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar
For West Indies, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Keacy Carty, Jason Holder, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph are among the players expected to form the core of the squad. The final West Indies selections are also awaited.
The series therefore provides India with an opportunity to test combinations across formats, while West Indies will look to challenge the hosts in conditions traditionally suited to India’s white-ball game.