West Indies have recalled Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze for their two-Test series against India in October. Also 33-year-old left-arm spinner Khary Pierre was handed his maiden Test call-up.West Indies have dropped former captain Kraigg Brathwaite from their 15-member squad for the two-Test series in India beginning on October 2, while Alick Athanaze and Tagenarine Chanderpaul have been recalled with an emphasis on players well equipped to play spin.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Athanaze have been included to bolster the top order batting while Pierre has been included as the second specialist spinner in the squad after strong performances in the West Indies Championship, where he claimed a chart topping 41 wickets at an average of 13.56.
WI recalls Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze for India Tests
The West Indies men’s team have announced their squad for the two-Test tour of India. Former captain Kraigg Brathwaite has been dropped after his poor run of form, while opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and middle-order batter Alick Athanaze make their Test return.
The Tests will be played in October: in Ahmedabad from October 2-6 and in New Delhi from October 10-14. It’ll be the Windies’ first away assignment of the current World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle and the first home examination for Gautam Gambhir since the historic low 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand last year. Former captain Kraigg Brathwaite was on Tuesday dropped from the West Indies’ 15-member squad to face India in a two-Test series next month.
32-year-old Kraigg Brathwaite, who captained the West Indies when they toured India last time in 2018 and had resigned from the post in March this year, was excluded from the squad following a poor run with the bat against Australia in their last assignment of three-Test series at home.
The right-handed batter had scored 4, 4, 0 and 7 in the first two Tests and was dropped from the third. Kraigg Brathwaite had become only the 10th West Indies cricketer to have completed 100 Tests in the second Test at Grenada.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul last played a Test in January 2024 and has 560 runs (one century and one half-century) to his name from 19 innings so far. Athanaze, meanwhile, featured against Pakistan in January this year. He has 627 runs to his name in 25 innings at 25.08.
“The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order given the recent struggles, with Alick Athanaze being added for his strengths and qualities against spin bowling. Khary is included for the first time as our second spinner in what we expect to be helpful conditions” Sammy said.
Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe emphasised the need to strike a balance with the squad selection.
“Our approach to squad selection continues to be calculated and deliberate. We consider the opposition, the playing conditions, and the skill sets required to be successful against specific opposition. The inclusion of players has therefore been guided not only by their recent performances, but also by identifying who within our pool is best suited to deliver positive results on these surfaces, against this quality of opposition,” Bascombe said.
The West Indies will play two Tests – in Ahmedabad from October 2-6 and in New Delhi from October 10-14 – which will also be their first away assignment of the current World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Roston Chase will continue to lead the Caribbean side with Jomel Warrican as his deputy, with the selectors also giving a maiden Test call-up to the 33-year-old all-rounder Khary Pierre.
West Indies’ full squad and travelling party for India series
West Indies squad: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope (wk), Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales.
Team Management: Head Coach: Daren Sammy, Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer, Assistant Coach (Bowling): Ravi Rampaul, Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith.