India are all set to take on the West Indies in a two-match Test series, with the opening game beginning on Thursday, October 02, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. This will be India’s first home Test series after their 3-0 whitewash defeat against New Zealand earlier this year, and the Shubman Gill-led side will be eager to make a strong comeback in front of home fans.
Match Details
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Match: India vs West Indies, 1st Test, West Indies tour of India 2025
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Date: October 02–06, 2025
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Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
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Time: 9:30 AM (IST)
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Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (India)
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Live Streaming: JioHotstar (India), ESPN+ (USA), TNT Sports (UK), Willow TV (North America), SuperSport (South Africa), and Kayo Sports (Australia).
India Team Overview
This will be Shubman Gill’s first Test series as captain at home, marking a big step in his leadership journey. Ravindra Jadeja, India’s seasoned all-rounder, has been named vice-captain. Rishabh Pant’s absence due to injury opens the door for Dhruv Jurel and N Jagadeesan to fight for the wicketkeeper’s slot.
India’s bowling attack looks balanced, with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna forming the pace battery. The spin unit has depth with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Jadeja, who are expected to exploit conditions as the match progresses. On the batting front, Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Sai Sudharsan carry the responsibility of giving India solid starts and stability.
West Indies Team Overview
The visitors have been hit by injuries, with pace duo Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph ruled out. That leaves Jayden Seales to lead the fast-bowling department. Debutant Khary Pierre and experienced Jomel Warrican will be crucial in the spin department.
In batting, the return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze provides stability, while skipper Roston Chase and Shai Hope will have to anchor the middle order. The Caribbean side comes into the series after a 3-0 drubbing in Australia and will be keen to prove themselves in the subcontinent.
Key Players to Watch
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India: Shubman Gill (captaincy test at home), Jasprit Bumrah (pace spearhead), Yashasvi Jaiswal (young opener in form), Ravindra Jadeja (all-round impact).
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West Indies: Jayden Seales (pace leader), Roston Chase (captain and all-rounder), Shai Hope (key batter), Tagenarine Chanderpaul (solid opener).
IND vs WI Head-to-Head Record in Tests
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Matches Played: 100
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India Won: 23
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West Indies Won: 30
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Draws: 47
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First Meeting: November 1948
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Last Meeting: July 2023
While West Indies dominated in the early years, India has had the upper hand in recent decades.
Pitch Report – Narendra Modi Stadium
The Ahmedabad surface is red-soil based with a green covering. The grass is expected to be trimmed to around 4-5mm before toss. Pacers could enjoy early seam movement and bounce, while the pitch is likely to deteriorate over the five days, bringing spinners into the game from Day 3 onwards.
Probable Playing XIs
India
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Yashasvi Jaiswal
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KL Rahul
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Sai Sudharsan
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Shubman Gill (C)
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Dhruv Jurel (WK)
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Ravindra Jadeja (VC)
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Washington Sundar
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Axar Patel
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Kuldeep Yadav
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Jasprit Bumrah
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Mohammed Siraj
West Indies
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Alick Athanaze
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Tagenarine Chanderpaul
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Kevlon Anderson
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Brandon King
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Roston Chase (C)
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Shai Hope
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Justin Greaves
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Jomel Warrican (VC)
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Jediah Blades
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Khary Pierre
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Jayden Seales
Probable Scenarios
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Day 1–2: Fast bowlers could dominate with the new ball, especially in the morning session.
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Day 3–5: Expect spinners to play a decisive role as cracks open up. India’s spin depth could make the difference.
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Key Contest: Indian batting lineup vs Seales-led pace attack; West Indies middle order vs Kuldeep-Jadeja combo.
Match Prediction
Given India’s home advantage, strong spin attack, and depth in batting, they start as clear favorites. The West Indies will need extraordinary performances from their young batting lineup and Jayden Seales with the ball to challenge India.
Prediction: India to win the 1st Test by a comfortable margin, possibly 200+ runs or an innings victory, unless the West Indies batters show unexpected resilience.