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India Hosts West Indies in Crucial Test Without Kohli, Sharma
2 Oct
Summary
- West Indies captain Roston Chase wins toss, elects to bat first
- India debuts new captain Shubman Gill, missing Kohli, Sharma, and Ashwin
- India fields three spinners and two pacers, West Indies opts for two pacers and three spinners

On October 3rd, 2025, the highly anticipated cricket test series between India and the West Indies kicked off in Ahmedabad. West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening match.
India's new test skipper Shubman Gill is leading the home team for the first time on home soil. This marks the first time in 15 years that India will play a home test without the services of veteran stars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have all retired over the past season.
Both teams have opted for spin-heavy lineups, with India fielding three spinners and two pacers, while the West Indies have gone with a two-pacer, three-spinner combination. All-rounder Nitish Reddy returns for India after recovering from an injury, while Dhruv Jurel will keep wickets in place of the injured Rishabh Pant.
The West Indies, who have not beaten India in their last 25 tests, are looking to turn the tide in this crucial series. The second test is scheduled to begin on October 10th in New Delhi.