Overview

• The BCCI named a 15-player squad for the two Tests on October 2 in Ahmedabad and October 10 in Delhi, with Shubman Gill as captain and Ravindra Jadeja as vice-captain.
• Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said the panel "expected a little bit more" from Nair after 205 runs at 25.62 across four Tests in England, framing Padikkal as the better option now.
• Nair voiced disappointment, pointing to his fifty in the Oval Test, and said he will return to domestic cricket to push for a recall.
• Padikkal was recalled alongside the retained Sai Sudharsan, with reports noting Padikkal followed an earlier India A century with scores of 1 and 5 in the second unofficial Test versus Australia A.
• Reaction was split as Dinesh Karthik said the selectors are moving on to younger options, while Nair’s childhood coach Vijay Madyalkar argued he deserved a home-series chance and believes the door remains open.