The three-match ODI series between India and West Indies begins on September 27, 2026, with a five-match T20I series to follow from October 6. The timing of the ODI series coincides with the Asian Games in Japan, which runs from September 24 to October 3, creating a scheduling overlap that has drawn commentary from former players and analysts.
Mohammad Kaif has suggested a specific batting order for India’s ODI squad against West Indies, proposing that Yashasvi Jaiswal occupy the number four position. Kaif’s proposal comes as India prepares for the series without several key players who are competing at the Asian Games, including Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishan Kishan.
“I think you can play Yashasvi Jaiswal at No.4 in this series. After Rohit goes, he will open anyway. You can shuffle in white-ball. Rohit and Gill can open, Virat at three, Jaiswal at four as there is no Shreyas,” Kaif said on his YouTube channe;.
“Gaikwad can bat at five, Rahul at six, Jadeja at seven, and then Nitish Reddy and Kuldeep Yadav, followed by the fast bowlers. You can set both Jaiswal and Gaikwad in this series. It is always up and down in white-ball, so play Jaiswal at four. I think it should be a straightforward call, actually,” he added.
Jaiswal has featured in six one-day internationals, scoring 285 runs at an average of 71.25 with a strike rate of 97.60. The left-handed batter has registered two centuries in his ODI career, with one coming against South Africa and another against Afghanistan. His ODI debut came on February 6, 2025, against England, and his most recent appearance was on June 17, 2026, against Afghanistan.
Kaif also raised questions about India’s squad selection strategy given the overlapping commitments. He expressed concern about the decision to send India’s strongest available team to the Asian Games while the ODI series against West Indies takes place with limited matches before the next World Cup. Kaif noted that other nations have taken a different approach by sending younger players to the Asian Games.
“I was looking at the teams for the Asian Games, and many of them have sent new players. We are not prioritising ODIs here but looking at the Asian Games. All our main players are there. Other nations have sent young teams, so is winning the gold not an important thing for them? We want to win the gold while other teams are looking to groom players or not giving this so much importance?,” Kaif said.
“It is a good thing to want to win. But because the West Indies are here and you have only limited ODIs before the World Cup, why have we sent the best team to the Asian Games ahead of ODIs? I cannot understand this,” he added.
India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series:
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (VC), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Naman Dhir
