In a bold move ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies, the BCCI has appointed 36-year-old all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as India’s vice-captain — overlooking seasoned campaigners KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah. The decision reflects the selectors’ growing faith in Jadeja’s leadership qualities and all-round impact on the longest format of the game.
Jadeja’s All-Round Excellence Earns Leadership Role
Jadeja, currently the top-ranked Test all-rounder in the ICC rankings, was one of India’s standout performers during the five-match Test series against England earlier this year. Across 86 Tests, he has amassed 3886 runs and taken 330 wickets, making him one of the most valuable players in world cricket.
Although Jadeja has never captained India before, he recently hinted at his desire to lead the team during a chat with Ravichandran Ashwin — and this vice-captaincy could be the first step toward that dream.
Pant Out Injured, Rahul and Bumrah Overlooked
The vice-captaincy spot opened up after Rishabh Pant, who served as deputy during the England series, was ruled out with a foot injury sustained on Day 1 of the fourth Test in Manchester.
While many expected the selectors to turn to either KL Rahul or Jasprit Bumrah — both of whom have captained India in Tests — the Ajit Agarkar-led panel instead chose Jadeja, rewarding his consistency and leadership presence on the field.
Key Selections and Omissions
The squad also sees Axar Patel returning to the red-ball fold, while Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Akash Deep, and Anshul Kamboj have been left out. Shubman Gill continues as captain, leading a squad that blends experience with young talent.
India’s Squad for West Indies Test Series:
Shubman Gill (C), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Narayan Jagadeesan (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, B Sai Sudharsan
India vs West Indies Test Series Schedule
| Dates | Match | Venue | Start Time (IST) |
| Oct 2–6 | 1st Test | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 9:30 AM |
| Oct 10–14 | 2nd Test | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 9:30 AM |
With Jadeja stepping into a leadership role for the first time in his Test career, all eyes will be on how India’s star all-rounder handles the added responsibility when the series begins in Ahmedabad on October 2.
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