Quick snapshot
- Series: West Indies tour of India — 2 Tests (Oct 2–14, 2025).
- 1st Test (Day 1 recap): West Indies were bowled out for 162 in the first innings; Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah led India’s attack. (Match played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad).
- Context: These Tests contribute to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings; India sits among the top teams in the current WTC cycle.
Why this short India vs West Indies Test Series 2025 matters
For many fans the headline is short but consequential: India wants to consolidate its home dominance and pick up WTC points; West Indies arrive to test depth, blood new players and chase rare success in India. Although a two-Test series rarely produces big swings in long-term rankings, it’s a crucial opportunity for both teams to fine-tune combinations, blood debutants and recover momentum ahead of a packed international calendar.
Key themes to watch:
- India’s fast-bowling depth and selection rotation after a long white-ball season.
- West Indies’ seam/spin balance and whether debutants or fringe players can convert starts in Indian conditions.
- WTC points implications: every Test and every session can change the percentage-based standings.
Series schedule & venues (official)
- 1st Test: 2–6 Oct 2025 — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
- 2nd Test: 10–14 Oct 2025 — Arun Jaitley Stadium (formerly Feroz Shah Kotla), Delhi.
(Times are local; TV/streaming windows differ by country — see “Where to watch” below.)
The opening day (what actually happened)
The 1st Test in Ahmedabad began with the West Indies electing to bat. India’s pace battery — led by Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah — exploited helpful conditions to bundle out the visitors for 162 on Day 1. Siraj and Bumrah combined for the bulk of the wickets as India asserted early control. The pitch and early overhead conditions produced movement, a factor the host bowlers used expertly.
Why this matters: a low first-innings total in Indian conditions puts the touring side on the back foot early and dramatically increases India’s chances to win within five days — an outcome that immediately influences WTC percentages and player confidence.
Who to watch — the player watchlist for this IND vs WI Test series 2025
India
- Shubman Gill (captain) – leading a new generation, responsible for setting the tone up top. (Team composition and tactics lean on his ability to marshal the lineup).
- KL Rahul – fitness and form permitting, his return to the Test setup provides middle-order solidity and flexible wicketkeeping options. He rejoined the squad after recent rest/management cycles.
- Jasprit Bumrah – the spearhead in red-ball bowling for India; his ability to extract late movement is a match-winner. He played a key role in the opening Test bowling performance.
- Mohammed Siraj – in red-hot form and one of India’s premier home performers; led the charge on Day 1 at Ahmedabad.
- Kuldeep Yadav / Spinners — India’s spinning options will be important if pitches wear; Kuldeep already made an impact in the opening Test.
West Indies
- Justin Greaves — seam-bowling allrounder who brings first-class heft and the ability to pinch crucial wickets; an experienced domestic performer for Barbados and a recent international regular. Expect him to be used as a strike option with the new ball and short spells later.
- Khary Pierre — left-arm spinner/allrounder often compared to a “Jadeja-type” utility player; useful lower-order hitting and can provide left-arm spin variation, useful on subcontinent surfaces.
- Roston Chase / Shai Hope / Youth — senior heads who must absorb pressure and provide backbone to the innings. The visitors are missing some frontline pace options through injury, which changes their attack plan.
Tactical angles — how each side can win the IND vs WI Test series 2025
India’s path to victory
- Exploit early seam — Use Bumrah/Siraj to extract movement in the first two sessions and nick cheap top-order wickets. (Worked well in Ahmedabad Day 1.)
- Middle-order consolidation — KL Rahul and Gill must build a big first-innings total and negate spin before it roughens up.
- Rotate spinners to choke runs — Kuldeep and other spinners to attack on wearing tracks.
West Indies’ path to an upset
- Resist the new ball — survive the first hour sessions and form partnerships to frustrate India’s strike bowlers.
- Use spin variations — Khary Pierre and part-time options need to exploit any turn on offer and keep India under scoreboard pressure.
- Work the second new ball — force India to think about declarations and reduce time lost to slow scoring. (This is a long-shot but the only route to turning a short series.)
Live: Where to watch India vs West Indies (TV & Streaming)
- India (TV/Streaming): Multiple Indian broadcasters and digital platforms will carry the series live — check local broadcasters and streaming partners for match-by-match rights (NDTV Sports and other national broadcasters are listing live coverage details).
- Outside India: Rights vary by territory — local sports networks and cricket streaming services (Will vary by country; check authorized broadcasters in your region).
Tip: Always use the official broadcaster in your country (or ICC/BCCI announcements) to avoid unreliable streams and geo-restrictions.
WTC angle — why these two Tests are more than just home games
Tests in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle are ranked by percentage of points won rather than total points. A convincing home win helps India’s percentage and strengthens its position toward automatic qualification for the WTC final. Conversely, West Indies need series success to climb from an underdog WTC standing. (Refer to the ICC standings for live percentages and point calculations.)
Weather & match interruptions — Ahmedabad outlook (important for fans)
Ahmedabad’s early-October weather this year has shown intermittent showers and patchy rain warnings from the IMD ahead of the Test; Day 1 saw some rain interruptions reported in live coverage. Expect short rain spells and humidity — bring tickets, rain gear and check official match updates for session timings.
Interactive corner — instant checklist for matchday fans
- ✅ Ticket & entry: Keep digital/print tickets and valid ID.
- ✅ Transport: Allow extra time for roads around the stadium on match days.
- ✅ Weather: Carry a small poncho; check IMD updates before leaving.
- ✅ Streaming: If you’re abroad, verify your country’s rights-holder in advance.
- ✅ Know the scoreboard basics: Save a live-score link (e.g., Cricbuzz / ESPNcricinfo) for ball-by-ball updates.
Verified sources & further reading (official / authoritative)
(All links below were checked and were active at time of publication — these are the official/major sports news and stats sources used to compile this article.)
- Cricbuzz — West Indies tour of India, 2025 (schedule & match list):
https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-series/9629/west-indies-tour-of-india-2025/matches (Cricbuzz) - Reuters — Match report: India dismiss West Indies for 162 in first innings of opening test (Oct 2, 2025):
https://www.reuters.com/sports/cricket/india-dismiss-west-indies-162-first-innings-opening-test-2025-10-02/ (Reuters) - NDTV Sports — Live streaming guide and match updates (India):
https://sports.ndtv.com/india-vs-west-indies-2025/india-vs-west-indies-live-streaming-1st-test-live-telecast-when-and-where-to-watch-9380919 (NDTV Sports) - ESPNcricinfo — Justin Greaves profile:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/justin-greaves-510823 (ESPN Cricinfo) - ESPNcricinfo — Khary Pierre profile:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/khary-pierre-581160 (ESPN Cricinfo) - ICC — World Test Championship standings and format:
https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings (ICC Cricket) - India Meteorological Department (IMD) — Ahmedabad weather bulletins (official):
https://mausam.imd.gov.in/imd_latest/contents/Todaysweather_mc.php?id=9 (India Meteorological Department)
Quick FAQs
Q: Who is playing the Tests and when?
A: Two Tests (Oct 2 & Oct 10 start dates) — Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium) and Delhi (Arun Jaitley Stadium). Official fixture pages list timings and playing XIs.
Q: Can I stream in India?
A: Yes — several Indian broadcasters and streaming platforms have rights; check official broadcaster pages or NDTV’s live guide for country-specific details.
Q: Are the WTC points important here?
A: Yes — both Tests count toward the World Test Championship percentages which determine WTC final qualifications. See ICC standings for live percentages.
Final note (authoritative & reader-first)
This TrenBuzz guide pulls facts from official score providers, international news wires and cricket databases to give an accurate, readable picture of the India vs West Indies Test series 2025 as it unfolds. For the most up-to-the-minute ball-by-ball details, use the live-score links above; for official announcements (squads, playing conditions, weather advisories), rely on the BCCI/ICC or the India Meteorological Department links provided.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Match timings, squads and weather are subject to official confirmation by event organizers and national meteorological agencies. Always consult official broadcaster pages, the ICC/BCCI or local authorities for final match and travel details. Images used in this article are royalty‑free or licensed for commercial use and are provided here for illustrative purposes.