India vs West Indies Upcoming Test Series 2025 – Preview
After The Asia Cup 2025 , Cricket fans across the globe are buzzing with excitement as India vs West Indies gears up for another riveting Test series on Indian soil in October 2025. This isn’t just another bilateral encounter — it’s a showdown rich in history, pride, and a key part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle. With India in a transition phase under a new captain and West Indies fielding a younger, hungry unit, this clash promises intense cricket over two high-stakes matches.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the full preview of the India vs West Indies Test series, including team squads, head-to-head Test records, the last five Test match results, strengths and weaknesses of both sides, and what to expect from the series.
India vs West Indies Test Series 2025 Schedule
- 1st Test: 2–6 October 2025, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- 2nd Test: 10–14 October 2025, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Both Tests count toward the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27. For India, this is their first home assignment of the new cycle; for West Indies, it’s a chance to break a three-decade-long drought of Test wins in India.
India Squad for the Series
BCCI announced The Indian team Squad for the India vs West Indies Test series is a blend of experience and fresh faces:
- Shubman Gill (C)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudharsan
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Ravindra Jadeja (VC)
- Washington Sundar
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Axar Patel
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- N. Jagadeesan (WK)
- Mohd. Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Kuldeep Yadav
This squad shows India’s shift toward a younger core, with Gill leading for the first time in a home Test series and several uncapped or lightly capped players getting an opportunity.
West Indies Squad Highlights
West Indies also arrive with a revamped side under a new captain. Senior figures have stepped aside, and the team is banking on youth, energy, and resilience. Key players include a new opening combination, a solid middle order built around promising batsmen, and a bowling unit led by a mix of experience and exciting young pacers. Their biggest challenge remains adapting to Indian pitches and tackling India’s world-class spin attack.
Head to Head: India vs West Indies in Test Cricket
The India vs West Indies rivalry stretches back to 1948. Historically, West Indies dominated the early decades, but the trend has reversed dramatically in recent years.
- Total Tests Played: 100
- India Wins: 23
- West Indies Wins: 30
- Draws: 47
While West Indies hold the edge in the all-time count, the story in the modern era is very different. Since 2002, India have lost only once to West Indies in Tests, and that too overseas. At home, India’s supremacy has been near total — West Indies haven’t won a Test match in India since the mid-1990s.
Last 5 Test Matches – India vs West Indies
Looking at the last five Test matches paints a clear picture of how dominant India have been:
- July 2023, 1st Test in West Indies: India won by an innings and 141 runs. The visitors batted once and wrapped the game up inside four days, showing their class in both departments.
- July 2023, 2nd Test in West Indies: Match drawn. India declared twice but couldn’t force a result thanks to defiant West Indies batting on a slow pitch.
- August 2019, 2nd Test in West Indies: India won by 257 runs. Classic all-round performance from the Indian side with both bat and ball.
- August 2019, 1st Test in West Indies: India won by 318 runs. India’s fast bowlers dismantled the hosts and set up a big win.
- October 2018, 2nd Test in India: India won by 10 wickets. Comprehensive victory at home showcasing India’s spin attack.
Summary: In the last five encounters of India vs WestIndies, India have won four and drawn one. This streak highlights India’s ascendancy and West Indies’ struggles to consistently compete at the Test level.
India’s Strengths Going Into the Series
1. Home Advantage and Spin Attack
India’s biggest weapon in this India vs West Indies series will be their spin attack. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav form a quartet capable of turning matches on spinning pitches. These conditions are traditionally difficult for visiting teams, and West Indies batters will be under pressure to negotiate the turning ball.
2. Young Yet Solid Top Order
Shubman Gill as captain, alongside KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sai Sudharsan, gives India a fresh but technically sound top order. If these players get going, India can pile on match-winning first innings totals.
3. World-Class Fast Bowling
Even in home conditions, the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd. Siraj can wreak havoc with the new ball and reverse swing later. Prasidh Krishna adds extra bounce and pace, giving India variety.
India’s Weaknesses / Areas to Watch
- Leadership Transition: This will be Shubman Gill’s first home series as captain. While he’s been groomed for leadership, pressure situations will test his tactical skills.
- Middle Order Depth: With several seniors missing, India will look to new players like Padikkal or Sundar to step up in case of top-order collapses.
- Balancing Pace and Spin: The team management must get pitch conditions and selection right. Over-reliance on spin could backfire on flatter tracks.
West Indies’ Strengths and Challenges
West Indies’ biggest strength is their crop of promising young pacers who can generate pace and bounce even on subcontinent wickets. If they strike early, they can put India under pressure. Their batting, however, remains their Achilles heel — inconsistency has plagued them, especially against quality spin.
Key areas for West Indies in this India vs West Indies series:
- Surviving the First Session: Their top order must blunt India’s new ball attack to avoid collapses.
- Countering Spin: Batsmen need a plan against Jadeja and Kuldeep to rotate strike and avoid pressure.
- Building Partnerships: Long stands are vital to keep India’s bowlers at bay.
Tactical Angles
- India vs WestIndies Pitch Preparation: Expect turning tracks from Day 3 onwards, meaning toss and first innings runs will be crucial.
- Use of All-Rounders: India have an advantage here with multiple spin-bowling all-rounders who can bat.
- Field Placements and Captaincy: With Gill new to captaincy, West Indies may try to test his field settings by playing aggressively in spurts.
Predicted Outcome
On paper, India start as overwhelming favorites. Their home record, superior spin attack, and a young but in-form batting line-up tilt the series heavily in their favor. A 2-0 result in favor of India is the most likely scenario.
Yet cricket thrives on unpredictability. If West Indies can put up big first innings scores or exploit India’s new leadership, an upset or at least a drawn Test cannot be ruled out.
Why This Series Still Matters
Despite the one-sided nature of recent results, India vs WestIndies remains a classic Test rivalry. It has produced legends from both sides and iconic performances over the decades. For India, this series is about cementing their new generation. For West Indies, it’s about proving they can still compete with the best in the toughest format.
Conclusion
The upcoming India vs WestIndies Test series is set to be an intriguing battle of youth versus tradition, with both sides eager to make a statement in the ICC World Test Championship. While India have the home advantage and a record of dominance in recent matches, West Indies arrive with nothing to lose and plenty to prove.
Expect exciting duels between India’s spinners and West Indies’ young batsmen, between Bumrah’s searing pace and West Indies’ counterattack, and between Shubman Gill’s new captaincy style and West Indies’ bold tactics.
For fans, analysts, and players alike, this series is more than just two Tests — it’s another chapter in a storied rivalry. Whether India extend their supremacy or West Indies script a remarkable comeback, the world will be watching.
Quick Recap of Key Stats: India vs WestIndies
- Tests Played: 100
- India Wins: 23
- West Indies Wins: 30
- Draws: 47
- Last 5 Tests: India 4 wins, 1 draw
