India will face the West Indies in the second Test of the series on October 10, 2025, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with the aim of securing a series victory. After a dominant performance in the first Test, winning by an innings and 140 runs, India is likely to field an unchanged playing XI. However, there are discussions around the form of Sai Sudharsan and the potential inclusion of Axar Patel in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The predicted XI includes KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as openers, followed by Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), and Dhruv Jurel (wk) in the middle order. The all-rounders are expected to be Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, with the bowling attack comprising Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
Sai Sudharsan Under Pressure
Sai Sudharsan's place in the team is under scrutiny. While he is considered a promising talent, he needs to solidify his position with significant contributions. In his IPL career, Sai Sudharsan has played 40 matches, scoring 1,793 runs with an average of 49.81, including 2 centuries and 12 half-centuries. In the 2024 IPL season, he scored 527 runs, including a century against Chennai Super Kings. However, his recent performances have been inconsistent, and he needs to convert his potential into substantial scores in Test cricket.
Axar Patel Pushing Nitish Kumar Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy, a young all-rounder, is also under pressure from Axar Patel. Despite the team management's inclination to give Reddy an extended run to develop his seam-bowling all-round abilities, his limited role in the previous Test has raised questions. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has emphasized the importance of developing a seam-bowling all-rounder for India's long-term plans and sees this series as an opportunity to nurture Reddy's potential.
Axar Patel is a strong contender for a place in the XI. He is a left-arm orthodox bowler and left-handed batsman with significant experience in Test cricket. In his Test career, Axar has played 14 matches, scoring 646 runs with an average of 36 and taking 55 wickets with a bowling average of 19.34. Patel's potential inclusion would bolster the spin attack and add depth to the batting lineup.
Team Strategy and Pitch Conditions
The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to favor batsmen for the first two days, with slow turn coming into play later in the match. The weather forecast predicts pleasant conditions with no rainfall, ensuring uninterrupted play. India might be tempted to play Jasprit Bumrah again, considering he has been rested for the upcoming ODIs against Australia, giving him a longer recovery period post this Test. However, Mohammed Siraj could be rested to keep him fresh for the ODI series against Australia.
India leads the two-match series 1-0 and aims to seal a series victory against the West Indies. The match starts on October 10, with the toss at 9 a.m. and the first ball bowled at 9:30 a.m..
