India showcased a stellar performance in the Test series against England, securing a thrilling draw with a resounding victory in the final Test at The Oval. This series, India’s first in the 2025 World Test Championship, was a tough one, and achieving such a result has significantly boosted the team’s morale. India’s next series in the World Test Championship is against West Indies in October this year. However, the Indian team that played in England is likely to see some changes for the West Indies series, with several players potentially missing out on a spot.
Let’s look at five players who are at risk of being dropped from the Indian team for the upcoming series. This list includes both players who were part of the original squad and those brought in as replacements during the England tour.
1. Shardul Thakur: Shardul earned his place in the Indian team for the England tour due to his impressive performances for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. However, in the two matches he played in this series, he failed to make a significant impact, managing only two wickets and 46 runs. His chances of retaining a spot in the team for the next series are slim.
2. Anshul Kamboj: Anshul was called up to England as a replacement for the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy. He made his international debut in the fourth Test in Manchester but managed only one wicket in the match. His bowling pace also drew significant criticism, making it unlikely for him to secure a place in the next series.
3. Nitish Kumar Reddy: Nitish, who was part of the squad for the England series, was ruled out before the fourth Test due to injury. In the two matches he played, he took three wickets and scored 45 runs. Given his fitness issues and lack of form, his inclusion in the West Indies series appears doubtful.
4. N Jagadeesan: Jagadeesan was called up to England ahead of the fifth Test as a replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant. However, he did not make it to the playing XI in the final Test, with Dhruv Jurel taking up the wicketkeeping duties instead. With Pant expected to return for the next series, the Tamil Nadu player is likely to lose his spot.
5. Karun Nair: The Indian star batter, returning to the Test team after an eight-year gap, failed to live up to expectations in the England series. Across five matches, he scored only 205 runs. With reports suggesting that Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan could return for the next series, Karun Nair’s place in the team is at high risk of being lost.
