India vs West Indies 2025: 5 Batters to watch out for in the Test series

India and the West Indies are going to meet for a Test series in October, comprising just two matches, with them being played in Ahmedabad and Delhi, respectively. The matchup looks straightforward on paper, but Tests are decided by who handles pressure and conditions best. Here are five batters who could determine the tone of the series and definitely need to watch them out. 

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Jaiswal arrives off a purple patch in red-ball cricket. The two Test centuries earlier this year and a string of big scores in India’s recent tours underline his ability to convert starts into big innings. 

He’s an instinctive left-hander who mixes textbook defence with explosive hitting when the situation allows. This is a dangerous combination in Indian conditions, where spinners can sap concentration. Expect him to be India’s go-to batter for quick momentum in the middle overs and for long, game-changing knocks.

2. Shubman Gill

Gill’s technique and temperament have matured into the kind of top-order solidity you need in Tests. He produced one of the season’s standout individual efforts recently in the England tour and is carrying form and leadership responsibility into the series. 

Gill handles both swing and spin with a calm hand, and his ability to occupy the crease for long periods will be vital against a West Indian bowling unit that will look to exploit any early soft spots. If he gets in, he converts starts into headline scores, and that is exactly what India will want.

3. KL Rahul

Rahul’s value in Tests is twofold. The technical solidity and the ability to adapt where the team needs him, whether as an opener, number three or a middle-order anchor, are all that Rahul offers to the team. 

He’s shown form this season with big first-class and international scores, including a century at Lord’s, and has a knack for pacing an innings under pressure. Against the West Indies, Rahul’s role will be to blunt the new ball, lift the tempo when conditions favour batting and steer long partnerships that choke the bowling.

4. Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja isn’t a classical top-order batter, but his batting often arrives at pivotal moments. He’s produced substantive Test knocks recently, showing the ability to bat long, rotate strike and punish loose deliveries. And his left-hand bat adds useful variety to the line-up. 

Beyond runs, Jadeja’s experience, footwork against spin and ability to switch tempo make him a danger in the lower middle order. He can shepherd the tail, accelerate late, or rebuild after early losses. With vice-captaincy responsibilities thrown in, he’s likely to have a leadership role on and off the field.

5. Shai Hope

Hope is the experienced head in the Windies lineup. His technique against both pace and spin is sound, and he’s shown in recent years that he can still compile big Test scores when settled. 

Beyond runs, Hope’s experience of international pressure and his knack for pacing an innings make him a wicket the Indian attack must prize. If Hope finds form early, he becomes the pivot for West Indies’ attempts to post competitive totals on Indian wickets. He is a pure class batter from the West Indies side in this series.

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