Ravindra Jadeja named India’s vice-captain for West Indies Tests. [Photo: X/Johns.]
After a stellar performance in the England Test series, Ravindra Jadeja has been named vice-captain for India’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies. India announced a 15-member squad for the two-match contest.
Ravindra Jadeja replaces Rishabh Pant, who is recovering from a foot injury sustained during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Ravindra Jadeja had one of the most remarkable all-round performances of his career in England. He scored 516 runs in 10 innings, averaging an extraordinary 86.00. This placed him fourth among the series’ top run-scorers, behind Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Joe Root.
He also registered six half-centuries, becoming the first player to achieve six fifties in an India-England Test series. His 516 runs are now the highest ever for an Indian batsman at No. 6 or lower in a Test series.
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Even more impressive, Jadeja’s second-innings average was 315.00, ranking among the highest ever recorded in a Test series.
As a bowler, Jadeja took 7 wickets at an economy rate of 3.56, including a four-wicket haul in the Manchester Test. In that same match, he scored an undefeated 107 in a pivotal partnership with Washington Sundar, enabling India to secure a hard-fought draw. It was one of the most memorable moments of his career.
The first Test will be played on October 2 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, while the second Test is scheduled from October 10 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.
India, led by Shubman Gill, is currently third on the points table with 28 points and a points percentage of 46.67 after a 2-2 drawn series against England.
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Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, N Jagadeesan (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.
Experts say Ravindra Jadeja’s appointment as vice-captain is a reward for his consistent all-round performances and experience in pressure situations, and his leadership could bring balance and stability to the Indian team, especially in Rishabh Pant’s absence.
Jadeja is the perfect person to mentor younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal because of his versatility with the bat and the ball. His presence, according to analysts, might improve India's strategy and judgment when facing the West Indies under dire circumstances.
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