India’s chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has confirmed that pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be available for both the Tests against West Indies despite the series starting just days after the Asia Cup 2025 ends in UAE.
Bumrah, who is part of the India squad at the eight-team continental event being played in the Emirates, has been named in the 15-strong squad for the two-Test series against West Indies, which will be India’s second fixture in the WTC 2025-27 cycle.
Bumrah’s workload has been managed by
the Indian team lately to prevent injuries. As part of that process, he played only three of the five Tests against England in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which India drew 2-2 under Shubman Gill’s captaincy.
Agarkar conceded that Bumrah had a “fair break” after the series against England, while also pointing out that he has been utilised judiciously in the ongoing Asia Cup.
"This team has been picked for both the Tests, so he's available for both Tests. We've had a fair break after England. He didn't play the fifth Test [at The Oval] either. So, there's been a five-week break. Even this tournament [Asia Cup] has been fairly spaced out till the last week. So no, he's ready and keen to play both Test matches," Agarkar said.
Bumrah has played four of India’s five matches in the continental event so far: he was part of the XI for the first two group-stage games against UAE and Pakistan before being rested for the third one against Oman as India’s qualification for the Super Fours was confirmed.
Bumrah returned to action for the first Super Four clash against Pakistan and was retained for the next clash against Bangladesh as well. Having qualified for the final, India have an option to rest him against Sri Lanka on September 26 in what will be a dead-rubber final encounter in the Super Fours.
As for the upcoming assignment, the first Test against West Indies will be played in Ahmedabad, starting on October 2. The teams will then fly to Delhi for the second encounter, scheduled for October 10.
India’s squad for West Indies Tests
Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, N Jagadeesan (wk)
