With India naming their squad for the upcoming two-Test series at home against the West Indies, several familiar faces have either been dropped or not considered. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, while unveiling the squad in Dubai, offered clarity on many of the decisions. Here’s a look at the notable exclusions and the reasons behind them.
Karun Nair – The End of the Road?
Eight years after scripting an unforgettable triple hundred in Chennai, Karun Nair’s Test career may have reached a quiet conclusion. He was part of the England tour earlier this year, but managed just 205 runs in eight innings, with 57 being his best effort. The selectors have now turned to Devdutt Padikkal instead.
Agarkar was blunt in his assessment: “We expected more from Karun. Padikkal offers a little bit more at this point. Wish we could give everyone 15-20 Tests, unfortunately it doesn't work that way.”
Abhimanyu Easwaran
The Bengal opener travelled with the squad to England but never broke into the playing XI. For the West Indies series, the selectors have opted for Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul as the two frontline openers, with N Jagadeesan available as backup.
Agarkar explained the reasoning: “On Abhimanyu, we don’t need a third opener at home.” This effectively pushes Easwaran back into the domestic circuit, where he will lead the Rest of India in the upcoming Irani Cup.
Mohammed Shami – Lack of Game Time
Despite being part of India’s white-ball plans, Shami has not been in the red-ball reckoning for a while. Injuries and extended breaks mean he has played only two first-class games in the last three seasons.
Agarkar highlighted this concern: “He’s not played a lot of cricket. In the last two-three years, I think he’s played one match for Bengal and one match in the Duleep Trophy. As a performer, we know what he can do. But he will need to play something.” Until he can prove his readiness in the domestic arena, a Test recall looks unlikely.
Ishan Kishan – Fitness and Form Question Marks
Ishan was once groomed as Rishabh Pant’s backup in the Test setup, even being picked for the England tour. However, injuries and lack of consistent game time have worked against him.
Agarkar was candid: “Ishan – when we picked him for India [as Pant’s replacement in England], he was not yet fit anyway. He is a very good player as we know. But we’d like him to play a bit more cricket and show some performances.” With Dhruv Jurel and N Jagadeesan chosen as wicketkeeping options, Ishan will need to prove himself again at the domestic level.
Shreyas Iyer – Voluntary Break from Red Ball
Unlike others, Iyer’s absence is voluntary. The BCCI confirmed he had sought a six-month break from red-ball cricket to focus on endurance and conditioning. For now, he remains an important cog in India’s ODI setup, captaining India A in the upcoming 50-over series against Australia A.
Agarkar clarified: “He’s been a key player in one-day cricket over the last few years. More than anything, we want him playing and playing well because he becomes a key member in the one-day squad.”
Other Omissions – Thakur, Akash Deep, and More
Several players from the England tour have missed the cut, including Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj. Of these, Easwaran, Akash Deep and Kamboj will feature in the Irani Cup against Vidarbha.
Akash Deep’s recent injury, which kept him out of the Duleep Trophy, also worked against his inclusion. Sarfaraz Khan, another potential candidate, is recovering from injury and unavailable.
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