India Test and ODI Squads for West Indies Tour Announced: Yashasvi IN, Pujara Dropped

Today, on Friday June 23rd, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the Test and ODI squads for India's upcoming tour of the West Indies. The selection committee has made some notable changes, including the omission of veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav from the Test side. Let's take a closer look at the squads and the reasoning behind these decisions. 

Test Squad Changes 
Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been struggling to find form since his return to the Test side a year ago, has been dropped from the squad. Pujara's dwindling returns and lack of consistency were major factors in this decision. Similarly, Umesh Yadav's lackluster performance in the World Test Championship final against Australia led to his exclusion from the squad. Replacing them are young top-order batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and pacer Mukesh Kumar, who have earned their maiden Test call-ups. Jaiswal's impressive performance in the IPL 2023, where he scored 625 runs at a strike rate of 163, caught the attention of the selectors. Additionally, his outstanding record in first-class cricket with an average of 80.21 in 15 matches and 9 centuries made him a strong contender for the Test squad. Navdeep Saini, who had been out of the picture for a while, has also made a comeback to the Test side. He will provide valuable support to the pace bowling attack. 

NEWS - India’s squads for West Indies Tests and ODI series announced.

TEST Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd.… pic.twitter.com/w6IzLEhy63

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 23, 2023

Vice-Captaincy and Squad Composition 
Ajinkya Rahane, who played a crucial role in India's performance in the World Test Championship final, has been named the vice-captain of the Test side. Rahane's gritty 89-run knock in the first innings of the final showcased his leadership skills and determination. The Test squad includes Rohit Sharma as the captain, along with Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan as wicket-keepers. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat, and Navdeep Saini complete the squad. 

ODI Squad Selection 
In the absence of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, the selectors have shown faith in Suryakumar Yadav by including him in the ODI squad. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan will take on the wicket-keeping responsibilities. The pace bowling attack will be led by Mohammed Siraj, with support from Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat. Umran Malik, who has made a comeback, and Mukesh Kumar are also part of the ODI squad. The spin department features Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, who have cemented their places with their consistent performances.

India’s ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Shardul Thakur, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh… pic.twitter.com/PGRexBAGFZ

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 23, 2023

Schedule and Future Announcements 
The Test series between India and the West Indies will consist of two matches and will commence on July 12th at Windsor Park in Dominica. The ODI series, comprising three matches, will begin on July 27th in Barbados. It is important to note that the squad for the T20Is is yet to be announced. Fans and cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement to see which players will represent India in the shortest format of the game. 

	India's Tour of West Indies 2023
Date	Match	Venue	Time
July 12 - 16	1st Test	Windsor Park, Dominica	07.30 PM IST
July 20-24	2nd Test	Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad	07.30 PM IST
July 27	1st ODI	Kensington Oval, Barbados	07.00 PM IST
Jul 29	2nd ODI	Kensington Oval, Barbados	07.00 PM IST
Aug 01	3rd ODI	Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad	07.00 PM IST

India’s Test squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

India’s ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.

Conclusion 
The BCCI's announcement of India's Test and ODI squads for the West Indies tour has brought some surprises and changes. The exclusion of Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav from the Test side reflects the selectors' desire for fresh talent and a stronger performance. The inclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, and Navdeep Saini, along with the appointment of Ajinkya Rahane as vice-captain, adds depth and variety to the squad. 

As the tour approaches, fans eagerly anticipate the performance of these young talents and the overall success of the Indian team. The Test and ODI series against the West Indies will provide an excellent opportunity for the new faces to prove their mettle and contribute to India's success on the international stage.