Spinner Rewarded for Domestic Dominance
West Indies have unveiled a 15-member squad for their upcoming two-Test series against India, beginning October 2 in Ahmedabad. The series will be the Roston Chase-led side’s second assignment in the new ICC World Test Championship cycle after hosting Australia earlier this year.
Among the key talking points is the maiden inclusion of left-arm spinner Khary Pierre. The 33-year-old has been rewarded for his stellar form in the West Indies Championship, where he topped the wicket charts with 41 scalps at a remarkable average of 13.56.
Familiar Faces Return
Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and middle-order batter Alick Athanaze also return to the setup. Chanderpaul, who last featured in January 2024 against Australia, has accumulated 560 runs in 10 Tests so far. Athanaze, meanwhile, was part of the squad that drew a two-match series in Pakistan earlier this year.
Explaining the selections, head coach Daren Sammy said the moves were designed to strengthen specific areas.
“The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order, while Alick Athanaze brings quality against spin. Khary is included as our second spinner, given the conditions we expect,” Sammy told Cricket West Indies.
Preparing for Subcontinental Challenge
Sammy acknowledged the magnitude of the task ahead as the Windies prepare to face an Indian side brimming with confidence after their thrilling drawn series against England.
“Playing in the subcontinent always presents a challenge, and we have selected a team to be competitive in these conditions,” he added.
Full West Indies Squad
Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican, Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales
Series Schedule
- 1st Test: October 2–6, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- 2nd Test: October 10–14, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi