India’s three-match ODI series against West Indies will begin on September 27, 2026, followed by a five-match T20I series from October 6. The ODI series will be played at the same time as the Asian Games in Japan, which are scheduled from September 24 to October 3.
The clash has raised questions over India’s decision to send several key players to the Asian Games while also hosting the West Indies for an important ODI series.
How can Yashasvi Jaiswal be included in India's playing XI vs WI?
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has suggested that Yashasvi Jaiswal should bat at No. 4 against West Indies. India will be without a few regular players, including Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishan Kishan, who are part of the Asian Games squad.
Kaif believes India can use the series to give Jaiswal experience in the middle order, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening the innings and Virat Kohli coming in at No. 3.
“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 channel.
He also suggested that Ruturaj Gaikwad could bat at No. 5, followed by KL Rahul at No. 6 and Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Kuldeep Yadav could then make up the lower middle order before 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 played six ODIs for India and has scored 285 runs at an average of 71.25 and a strike rate of 97.60. He has two ODI centuries to his name, against South Africa and Afghanistan.
The left-hander made his ODI debut against England on February 6, 2025, while his most recent appearance came against Afghanistan on June 17, 2026.
Kaif questioned BCCI's Asian Games squad decision
Kaif also questioned India’s decision to send its strongest available squad to the Asian Games when the West Indies ODI series is taking place at the same time.
He pointed out that several other countries have opted to send younger teams to the Asian Games, giving their emerging players an opportunity to gain experience.
“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,” Kaif said.
“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 acknowledged that winning gold at the Asian Games is important but questioned whether India should have prioritised the event over the ODI series, especially with the next World Cup approaching.
“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