Overview

• Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Jasprit Bumrah is fit for both Tests after a post-England break and spaced Asia Cup outings, stressing team-first workload decisions made with medical staff.
• India open the two-Test home series in Ahmedabad on October 2 before moving to Delhi for the second match on October 10 in the new World Test Championship cycle.
• Devdutt Padikkal is included as selectors look to the future, Sai Sudharsan is backed at No. 3, and Axar Patel returns alongside wicketkeepers Dhruv Jurel and N. Jagadeesan.
• Karun Nair and Abhimanyu Easwaran are left out, with Agarkar indicating no need for a third opener in a 15-member home squad and pointing to performance-based selection.
• Mohammed Shami’s readiness remains unclear due to limited recent cricket, and separate commentary from Mohammad Kaif questions Bumrah’s white-ball deployment during the Asia Cup.