India's expected Test squad against West Indies

India will be back playing Test cricket after the Asia Cup. Team India is scheduled to play a 2-match Test series against West Indies on home soil. While the first Test will be played from 4th October at Rajkot, the second Test will be played at Hyderabad from 12th October.

Even though India lost a hard-fought Test series against England, they will be the favourites against West Indies. It will also be a fantastic opportunity for the Indian players to prepare themselves for the tough series against Australia Down Under.

After the series defeat against England, some changes are expected in the side.

We will look at India's probable team for the Test series against West Indies.

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#1 KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal

For how long can the selectors avoid Agarwal ?

India went in the first Test against England with the combination of Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan. While Murali Vijay was dropped midway in the series, Shikhar Dhawan is also expected to be dropped from the side. Dhawan had a poor time in England where he failed to score even a single half-century in the Test series. KL Rahul also did not perform well but his fighting innings in the last Test might help him save his place in the side.

Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal, both of whom have been piling on runs in domestic cricket and for India A, are expected to fill in for Vijay and Dhawan. Shaw was selected in the team for the last two Tests against England, but did not get a chance to play. India might hand the Test cap to one of these players against West Indies.

#2 Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane

It will be do-or-die series for Rahane

Virat Kohli is likely to be back in the Indian team after a much-needed break. Kohli was outstanding as a batsman against England and will look to continue his good form against West Indies too. However, he might want to sort out certain captaincy issues that were questioned in the England series.

Cheteshwar Pujara had a mixed series against England. After being dropped from the playing XI in the first Test, Pujara played a couple of crucial innings for India. However, he lacked consistency. But Pujara in home conditions is extremely dangerous and the West Indies team will be well aware of this fact.

One player for whom the Test series against West Indies will be more important than others will be Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane had a forgettable time against England and his place in the Indian team is under the scanner. A poor show against West Indies might prove detrimental for Rahane's career.

#3 Hanuma Vihari, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant will look to cement his place in the Test side

Hanuma Vihari made an impressive debut for Team India in the last Test against England. Vihari came at a difficult time and stitched a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. Vihari is all set to feature in the Indian team against West Indies.

Even though Karun Nair did not get a game in England, he is likely to be retained. Hardik Pandya is ruled out of the Asia Cup after suffering an injury in the game against Pakistan and might miss the Test series too. Nair might take Pandya's place in the team.

Rishabh Pant showed glimpses of his talent against England. Pant scored his maiden Test ton in the last Test of the series and will look to cement his place in the Indian team by scoring big runs against West Indies. There are no updates about Wriddhiman Saha's injury and he might miss out again.

#4 Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep will be a handful on Indian pitches

Out of the 5 matches India played in the Test series against England, India played with a solo spinner in 4 of them. The conditions in England were very different from what India will be facing against the West Indies and thus 2 or maybe even 3 spinners might be included in the playing XI.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are devastating in Indian conditions and they will be the biggest threat to the visitors. It will be interesting to see who will be India's backup spinner. Kuldeep Yadav squandered a chance in the second Test against England, but he might be given another chance in the longest format. However, Shahbaz Nadeem and Jayant Yadav have an outside chance of getting picked.

#5 Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami

Bumrah was exceptional against England

India's pace bowling was India's strength in England. Indian pacers bowled brilliantly and kept India in the series. Even though Indian pitches aren't conducive for pacers, India will look to play it's pacers so that they remain match-ready for the crucial tour of Australia.

Jasprit Bumrah has become indispensable for Team India across all formats and will be an automatic choice. Bumrah came back brilliantly after injury in the series against England and bowled a couple of stunning spells.

Mohammad Shami bowled some stunning spells against England. He looked unplayable at times and was extremely unlucky not getting the number of wickets he deserved to.

#6 Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvi is set to make a comeback in the Test side

Ishant Sharma has been a different bowler since he has started bowling full. He troubled the English batsmen consistently and was India's highest wicket-taker of the series. The experienced seamer has been the leader of the Indian bowling-attack and looks to be in good rhythm.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not play the series against England as he was recuperating from a back injury. Apart from his swing bowling, Bhuvneshwar's contribution with the bat in the lower-order was missed by Team India. However, Bhuvneshwar has looked sharp in the Asia Cup and is likely to make a comeback in the Test side.