Why Team India has to win both Tests vs West Indies

You might be wondering—why is there even a home Test series against West Indies? There’s hardly any comparison between the two teams, and honestly, these matches may not even last the full five days. But believe me, this series is going to be far more crucial than you think.

Remember what happened last year? Team India was whitewashed 3–0 at home by New Zealand, and suddenly, we couldn’t even qualify for the World Test Championship final.

This time, though, India is in a strong position. We managed to draw a Test series in England, which gave us some valuable points. And now, beating West Indies in both Tests will massively boost our chances of making it to the next WTC final.

Because after this, we face South Africa, the reigning champions in whites. That will be a tough battle for sure. Which is why this opportunity India has right now is rare and golden. Moments like these don’t come often.

India vs West Indies Test series schedule

The 1st Test starts from October 2 to 6 in Ahmedabad, followed by the 2nd Test in Delhi from October 10 to 14.

World Test Championship Standings

India currently sits third on the table with 46.67 percentage points. Their opening challenge was a classic—an away Test series in England that ended 2-2. While the draw earned them crucial points, it also means India will need dominant performances in their four home Tests this season to secure a strong position in the standings.

West Indies, meanwhile, are placed sixth—but that’s largely because the three sides below them are yet to play in this WTC cycle. Their own start was brutal: a 3-0 hammering at home against Australia. The low point came in the final Test, when they were skittled out for just 27 runs, sparking an emergency crisis meeting among Caribbean cricket’s top brass.

What happened last time India met the West Indies?

The last time these two teams met was in 2023 when India toured the West Indies. Rohit Sharma's men won the 1st Test handsomely but the 2nd Test ended in a draw due to persistent rain.

Interestingly, the Windies last toured India for a Test series back in 2018 and were whitewashed 2-0. In fact, the West Indies hasn't managed to win a Test against India in 23 years. The last time it happened was in 2002.

Team India squad for West Indies:

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

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