IND vs WI: Ajit Agarkar reveals why Karun Nair got dropped from India test squad

Karun Nair made only 205 runs in four tests on England tour with one fifty.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) men’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the Indian squad for the two-match test series against the West Indies on Thursday, 25th September. India and the West Indies will clash in the first test from October 2 in Ahmedabad and in the second test from October 10 in Delhi. Both of the tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.

The selectors have chosen a full-strength squad, including Jasprit Bumrah, for the two-match series, despite rumors that Shubman Gill might be rested because he participates in India’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign.

Due to his ongoing recovery from a foot ailment, Rishabh Pant has been ruled out. In his absence, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was named as vice-captain of the side. In terms of pace, India have chosen Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav will join Jadeja in the spin department.

Sai Sudharsan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul continue to be part of the Indian batting lineup.

“We expected a little bit more”—Ajit Agarkar on dropping Karun Nair and picking Devdutt Padikkal

One of the biggest news from the selection announcement was that Karun Nair was dropped and Devdutt Padikkal was picked for the middle-order batting role. Karun Nair, who had last played for India in tests in 2017, made a comeback for the recent test series in England on the back of strong performances in domestic cricket.

However, Karun’s performance in the England series was lukewarm, with 205 runs in eight innings, with only one fifty to his name.

Explaining the selection call, Agarkar said, as per ANI, “I mean, obviously, frankly, we expected a little bit more from him; he has played four tests. We have spoken about one inning. As it is, I mean, we feel Padikkal (Devdutt) offers a little bit more at this point, and I wish we could have given everyone 15 or 20 tests. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.”

Agarkar backed Devdutt Padikkal, highlighting his recent outing with the bat.

“Padikkal’s been in the Test squad. I mean, he was in the Test squad in Australia. Played in Dharamsala against England, got a 50 there. He’s shown some decent form with India A. Yeah, frankly, we expected a bit more from Karun on the England trip,” he added.

India 15-member squad for West Indies tests:

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

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