India’s upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies, starting October 2 in Ahmedabad, has sparked discussions following team selection changes. The exclusion of Karun Nair, who scored 205 runs in eight innings during the England series, and the inclusion of Devdutt Padikkal, along with B Sai Sudharsan’s retention, reflect India’s shift towards younger talent in Test cricket. Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra, speaking to IANS, shared his views on these selection decisions and the team’s overall strategy for the series. “He was given a chance. I will say that he was very lucky to make a comeback in the Indian team at the age of 33. It was an opportunity for him to do well. He played so many matches, but did not perform well,” Mishra said about Nair’s exclusion. Regarding the inclusion of younger players, Mishra added: “It happens that after a while, you have to look at the youngsters who are performing well. You have to give them a chance, and Sai Sudharsan is one of the players who will now get more opportunities, as per the thinking which is going in. The way he bats, his technique is good, he plays well, and takes time to get in and play his shots. So chances are being given to players like him, and the time is ripe to get more young players in the Test side who can turn out to be long-term assets.” The spin bowling department sees the return of Axar Patel alongside vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar. “I always say that we should rely on our strength, which has always been spin bowling, especially against the West Indies. Whenever there is a little help in the wicket for spinners, the West Indies team always struggles. So relying on our strength is a good thing as we have all the combinations available – left-arm spin, our vice-captain who can bat as well as bowl left-arm spin, Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav, which means we have spinners of all varieties. But for sure, we will play with two proper spinners,” Mishra explained.
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India currently holds third place in the 2025-27 WTC cycle with 46.67 percentage points, while West Indies has yet to open their account. Mishra praised the selection committee’s youth-focused approach: “I think there are a lot of young players in the team, which is a good thing. The best part is all the young players are being brought in for upcoming big series or tournaments. The biggest opportunity is now for the youngsters, and they need to grab it by performing for the team and securing their place. It’s also a good thing that those doing well in domestic cricket and IPL are being given a chance to show their abilities. I have always known that Ajit Agarkar tries to pick the best team, and I think he is moving in that direction.” With Rishabh Pant still recovering from a fractured right foot, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has gained attention. Regarding opportunities for young players, Mishra concluded: “Whoever gets a chance, whether it’s Jurel or other youngsters, they need to try to make runs and perform so that they get a place in upcoming series and tournaments. Doing this boosts confidence. In our time, we didn’t get a chance so soon, but now they are getting that opportunity.” “In our case, we had to perform for 2-3 years, then go to India A, and then get a chance in the Indian team. Now, you do well in one season, and come into reckoning for the Indian team. Once you come in, keep that form going and continue performing to play as long as you can for India.” “The most important thing is to focus on performances, and not on anything else. If you focus on performance, your place will be automatically secured, whether you’re a youngster or not. If you perform, stay fit – which is very important today – and whenever you get a chance, focus on how you want to perform. If you do that, your place will be automatically made.”
