Nair may make way for Padikkal for West Indies Test series

Karun Nair's much pleaded second chance may have come and gone and if he has exactly managed to make the best of it is questionable. As the selectors are set to pick the squad for the two home Tests against West Indies, the 33-year-old would dominate debate, and likely, it would be for the wrong reasons. The selection meeting will be on Wednesday (September 24) and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said it will be online.

Nair had once famously sought a second chance in international cricket, and the so-called second opportunity came his way in England during the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, the impression among those who matter is that he failed to make the most of it.

Nair played four Tests, scoring only 205 runs at an average of just over 25, with a solitary half-century in eight innings. These modest figures came in a series dominated by the batters, where over 7,000 runs were scored, including 21 centuries and 29 half-centuries between the two teams. He did not have a big score, the highest being 57 in the first innings of the Oval Test.

Nair returned to international cricket after a hiatus of eight years for the England series, on the back of some robust performances in domestic cricket. He may well have to go back to the same grind again, as the selectors appear to be exploring alternatives. The scrutiny is not just over the runs he scored but also the manner he got out in England.

Devdutt Padikkal, who hammered a brilliant 150 against the touring Australia A side in Lucknow a few days ago, is emerging as a strong contender. Adding to concerns over Nair is the fact that he has not played any competitive cricket since returning from England in early August. Padikkal, who was part of the squad in the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy may take Nair's place in the squad.

Apart from Nair, there are unlikely to be too many changes to the squad that featured in the England series. Rishabh Pant, who fractured his right toe during the Old Trafford Test, has not yet fully recovered and he will continue to remain on the sidelines. At present he is undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Almost the same batting line-up - Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan and KL Rahul, besides Padikkal is expected to be picked for the Tests. The all-rounders will be Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, all spin-bowling all-rounders, who will be joined by Kuldeep Yadav.

Dhurv Jurel, who also scored a century against Australia A, will retain his place and N Jagadeesan will be the back-up wicketkeeper. The three pacers will be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Bumrah's participation will be dependent on how the Asia Cup pans out but at this stage, he is expected to play both the Tests against West Indies.

Akash Deep, the pacer who was in England, has not fully recovered and may not be considered for the series which, anyway, is expected to be dominated by spin. There may be a chance that Nitish Reddy will be the 15th member but that is still not guaranteed.

The two Tests are in Ahmedabad (from October 2 to 6) and New Delhi (from October 10 to 14).

Likely 15: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Reddy and N Jagadeesan.