India's predicted squad for the upcoming Test series against West Indies

4-1 in favour of England, the scoreline read after the end of the exhausting Test series against England. To be fair enough, India had their chances in the series that could have made the scoreline somewhat different. But there are no if's and but's in the field of competitive cricket. Henceforth, the result.

The next Test assignment for the Indian team will be a home series against West Indies. India will play two Tests against West Indies starting from 4th of October.

Having lost a Test series against England, the team selection will prove to be an arduous job for the team selectors. Thus, with plenty of setbacks and positives from the Test series against England, the team selectors will have a tough job on the platter.

Hence, let us look at what can be India's predicted squad for the Test series against West Indies.

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Openers: KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, and Mayank Agarwal

The one area that had been the problem for India in the Test series against England was the opening slot. Barring KL Rahul, the Indian openers have had a series to forget against England. Hence, selecting openers for the upcoming Test series against West Indies call for a strenuous job.

The one man who will unquestionably be a part of the squad is KL Rahul. He started off the Test series against England with a lot of discrepancies. However, as the time grew, Rahul got into the grooves of Test cricket and lived up to the expectations with the bat as well as with his excellent slip catching. Thus, with a decent tour against England, KL is expected to retain his place in the squad for the Test series against West Indies.

An assortment of other two openers will remain a matter of concern for the selectors. Nonetheless, Prithvi Shaw a young prodigy from Mumbai is expected to be the choice for India in the Test series against West Indies. Unfortunately, Shaw didn't get a chance in the recent series. But, he is inevitable to retain his place in the squad owing to his great performances for India A in the recent past.

The last man in the straw could be any of Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan or Mayank Agarwal. Some might argue Rohit Sharma might be the one as well. But, Mayank Agarwal might make the squad as the third opener. The Indian management might test Agarwal on the Test stage so as the Indian management can evaluate him before the Test series against Australia.

Middle-Order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, and Karun Nair

The Indian middle-order looks more or less sorted ahead of the home series against West Indies.

Cheteshwar Pujara, India's No.3 slotted batsman, has had a decent series against England. Having scored 278 runs at an average of 39.71 in the recently concluded Test series against England, Pujara was India's third highest run scorer in the series. Hence, he is expected to retain his place in the squad for the Test series against West Indies.

Well, we are no one to question Virat Kohli's inclusion in the squad for the series against West Indies unless and until he is injured. 244 runs, that was the difference between the highest run-scorer (Kohli) and the second highest run-scorer (Buttler) of the Test series between India and England - the dominance of Kohli in the series.

Unquestionably, Ajinkya Rahane didn't live up to his expectations in the recent Test series. But, his performances were too good for a player to get dropped from the team. Hence, the Mumbaikar is here to stay in the squad for the Test series against West Indies.

Hanuma Vihari, the one from the ranks of Rahul Dravid's India A side, was undoubtedly a treat to watch in his debut match. Vihari started off the match with an excellent fifty followed by some good bowling hand. Although Vihari failed to replicate his 1st innings batting heroics in the 2nd innings, he deserves to retain his place in the Indian Test team.

Unfortunately, Karun Nair failed to get a game in the Test series against England. Nonetheless, given his batting exploits, he can't be overlooked to be a part of the Indian Test team. Thus, Nair is set to maintain his place in the squad for the Test series against West Indies.

Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik

Rishabh Pant had a mixed series against England. He had a decent debut game where he scored some runs and took brilliant catches too. However, he lost his way in the very next match where he failed to rake up runs. But, to cover it up he came up with some good performances in the final match of the series where he hit his maiden Test hundred. Thus, Pant is least likely to get the axing from the Indian management for the Test series against West Indies.

Dinesh Karthik is expected to retain his place in the squad as a backup wicket-keeper. Although Karthik has had a sorry series against England, he might well get the preference ahead of Pant in the starting Test owing to his exceptional keeping skills against spinners. Hence, stressing upon the fact that the Test series against West Indies will be a spinner dominated one, Karthik might prove to be a tempting option for the Indian management.

All-rounders and Spinners: Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav

Hardik Pandya had to face a lot of criticism for his dismal performance in the Test series against England. Barring his five-wicket haul in the third Test, he has had a sorry Test series against England. Although this kind of performance calls for an axing, Pandya might get the last chance in the Test series against West Indies ahead of a much-important series against Australia.

If fit, Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian veteran spinner, will be India's first choice spinner in the Test series against West Indies. Ashwin had his moments in the series. He started off the series well but failed to emulate that in the remaining matches. Nevertheless, he will remain to be India's first-choice spinner for the upcoming series.

Ravindra Jadeja who replaced Ashwin in the last Test of the series against England has had a decent game where he racked up some runs with the bat and provided some crucial breakthroughs with the ball. Hence, his place in the squad for the upcoming Test series against West Indies.

With umpteen abilities up his sleeve, Kuldeep calls for a good selection, especially in the Indian conditions. Thus, with a home series on the cards, the Indian management may redraft Kuldeep Yadav back into the side after excluding him from the squad for the last two Tests against England.

Pacers: Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The biggest positive for India from the recently concluded Test series against England was their improved crop of fast bowlers. With unerring lines and good levels of accuracy, the Indian pacers performed brilliantly in the series against England.

Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami were at their supreme best in the series against England. All three Indian pacers were among the top five wicket-takers in the series against England. Thus, it becomes quite inevitable that Ishant, Bumrah, and Shami will hold their place in the squad for the Test series against West Indies.

Moreover, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is reported to have completely recovered from the injury, might get a callback to the Indian squad for the Test series against West Indies.