3 players who were unlucky to miss out on IND’s ODI squad against West Indies

India’s Men’s Selection Committee announced a 15-man ODI squad on September 16, 2026 for the home series against West Indies. The three-match series begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, followed by matches on September 30 in Guwahati and October 3 in New Chandigarh.

The squad saw significant changes because the Asian Games in Japan, running September 24 to October 3, 2026, overlap with all three ODIs. Players including Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah were unavailable due to those commitments. Shubman Gill will captain the side as India build towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

3. Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh has represented India in two ODIs, with his most recent appearance coming in 2023. He has also been working on developing his bowling to add another dimension to his game. With the Asian Games creating several vacancies in the squad, Rinku was a candidate who could have slotted into the lower-middle order. The selectors instead handed a maiden ODI call-up to Punjab all-rounder Naman Dhir, who can fulfil a similar batting role. Rinku’s limited ODI exposure and the gap since his last appearance make this a missed opportunity for him to re-establish himself at the international level.

2. Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami was not named in India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series. He was also absent from the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup. Shami’s performances in the Duleep Trophy were decent without being outstanding, and with multiple regulars unavailable because of the Asian Games schedule clash, a recall was a reasonable expectation. The series would have offered him a platform to demonstrate his continued relevance in the 50-over format. Instead, the selectors opted for other pace options, leaving Shami on the outside looking in ahead of a busy white-ball calendar.

1. Manav Suthar

Manav Suthar has shown the ability to adapt quickly to Test cricket. With the squad reshuffle brought about by the Asian Games conflict, the left-arm spinner could have been considered for a role in the 50-over setup. The selectors, however, chose to go with established spin options in Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, along with Auqib Nabi, who received his maiden ODI call-up having previously been part of India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour in August 2026. Suthar’s omission means he will have to wait for another opportunity to press his case in white-ball cricket.

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The three-match ODI series against West Indies will give India a chance to assess their depth ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, with Gill leading a squad that includes several fresh faces alongside experienced campaigners.