Dinesh Karthik picks India’s playing 11 for 1st IND vs WI 2025 Test; leaves out in-form spinner

Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik has picked India’s final XI for the opening Test match against the West Indies. India will kick off their home season against the Windies and will look to make the most of the home conditions.

Karthik believes Kuldeep Yadav will continue to warm the benches against the West Indies. Yadav was part of the five-match Test series against England but didn’t get a single opportunity. Karthik believes Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja will be India’s three spinners while playing at home.

The former Indian stumper picked KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the openers. The Indian duo had done a decent job on the tour of England and they would want to replicate the same performance. Karthik backed Sai Sudharsan at one drop and there is no doubt that Indian skipper Shubman Gill will continue to bat at number four.

Devdutt Padikkal takes the number fifth place in Karthik’s team whereas Ravindra Jadeja will bat at number six. Wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel will bat at number seven in Rishabh Pant’s absence. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are Karthik’s two fast bowlers, with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as the other two spinners.

Dinesh Karthik’s playing XI for the opening Test against the West Indies (Cricbuzz): KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

The opening Test against the West Indies will be played at Ahmedabad from October 2 onwards.

Squad: Shubman Gill (c), Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), N. Jagadeesan (wk), Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna