Follow UsThe buzz might not be there for Test cricket and all the discussions might still be about the Asia Cup trophy presentation, but India are going to play a Test match from October 2 onwards at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The pre-match press conference was held by the Indian team on October 1 (Wednesday), and the Test captain, Shubman Gill, who had a horrid show with the bat in the Asia Cup 2025, spoke about a lot of things.
He made it clear that overcast conditions in Ahmedabad would mean that India could go with an extra seamer against the West Indies. As it is, India generally play with two seamers and three spinners in home conditions in Tests.
"You will get to know the [playing] XI tomorrow. Conditions and weather are tempting to play an extra seamer. We will take a call tomorrow after seeing the moisture in the pitch," Times of India quoted Gill as saying.
Talking about switching formats in less than a week, Gill, who did not score even a single fifty in the seven matches of the Asia Cup, said, “I will take it week by week. I am not looking too far ahead. For batters, it is more mental fatigue than physical—unlike bowlers. Right now, I am fresh.”
It was expected that Jasprit Bumrah, who played in important Asia Cup matches, despite missing out on a few key matches in England, would be rested for the series. However, he was named in the India squad.
Explaining whether the pacer will play the first match, Gill said, “The call on Bumrah will be match to match, depending on how much he has bowled in a Test and how the bowlers feel. Nothing is decided yet,” he said.
India and the West Indies will play a two-match series, part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.