Shai Hope will captain the West Indies as they prepare for a challenging tour of India, with the two sides set to meet in three ODIs and five T20Is.
One of the major talking points in the T20I squad is the inclusion of uncapped opener Kamil Pooran, who has earned his maiden international call-up after an impressive campaign in the Caribbean Premier League 2026. The young batter has scored 273 runs in eight innings at a remarkable strike rate of 159.64.
Quentin Sampson, who represented the West Indies at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, has also returned to the T20I squad.
The West Indies have further strengthened their batting options with the return of experienced left-hander Shimron Hetmyer, who will feature in the five-match T20I series. However, experienced all-rounder Jason Holder has been rested and will miss the entire tour.
West Indies ODI squad
Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales.
John Campbell also returns to the ODI setup after missing the final two matches of the recent series against New Zealand. His return adds further experience to a squad aiming to build momentum ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
The West Indies currently sit 10th in the ICC ODI Team Rankings. With the automatic qualification cycle set to conclude after the second ODI against India, the Caribbean side will not be able to secure an early qualification spot for next year’s World Cup.
Head coach Daren Sammy, however, believes the series provides an important opportunity for the team to improve and assess players ahead of the global tournament.
Playing against the top team in the world presents us with a chance to fine-tune and improve our performances as an ODI team, which has seen quality performances across the cycle,” Sammy said.
“The series also creates a valuable platform to assess players who are stepping into important roles for this series with a long-term target of competing in the World Cup in 2027.”
West Indies T20I squad
Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.
The five-match T20I series will also renew the rivalry between the West Indies and India after their high-intensity encounter at this year’s Men’s T20 World Cup.
Following a series victory over Sri Lanka, Sammy said the West Indies are focused on developing a strong group of players with an eye on the next T20 World Cup in 2028. “We are looking to build on the momentum from our series win against Sri Lanka, with the long-term goal of developing a strong core of players ahead of the next T20 World Cup,” he said.
“The challenge of playing against the World Champions at home will provide valuable preparation, allowing us to continue improving and developing both individually and as a collective unit.” The tour will begin with the opening ODI on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, with the three-match ODI series followed by five T20Is.