Irfan Pathan picks Yashasvi Jaiswal and Naman Dhir as players to watch in India vs West Indies ODIs

India named a 15-member ODI squad for the three-match home series against West Indies, which begins September 27, 2026. Shubman Gill was named captain of the squad. The series will be played across three venues: Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, Guwahati on September 30, and New Chandigarh on October 3.

The scheduling clash with the Asian Games has created opportunities for several players to make their case, something Pathan sees as an opportunity rather than a problem.

"With the Asian Games and the West Indies series happening simultaneously, it's a blessing in disguise, where a lot of young boys will definitely get a chance," Pathan told JioHotstar.

Former India pacer Irfan Pathan has identified two squad members as players worth monitoring during the series. Pathan highlighted Yashasvi Jaiswal and Naman Dhir as performers to keep an eye on as the team prepares for the West Indies challenge. The cricketer-turned-commentator outlined his reasons for focusing on each player's role in the upcoming matches.

Pathan explained that Jaiswal, who serves as a backup opener, should be given an extended run rather than used only as a reserve option.

"One player I will have my eyes on, in terms of the number of opportunities he gets in this one-day series against the West Indies, is Yashasvi Jaiswal. He is the backup opener in the squad, and by the time you reach South Africa for the World Cup, your backup opener should have had enough opportunities," he said.

"So, whenever there is an opportunity, I would want to see him playing regularly. Obviously, you will have to think about how you create those opportunities, whether you shuffle the batting order or rotate the players, but I hope he gets his chances against the West Indies," he added.

Why Pathan is watching Yashasvi Jaiswal closely

Jaiswal has already made an impact in ODI cricket since his debut on February 6, 2025 against England. The young opener has featured in six ODIs and scored two centuries during that span. His performances have established him as a prospect for India's future plans in the 50-over format. Pathan stressed that by the time India reaches the ODI World Cup, the backup opener should have accumulated ample opportunities to develop his skills and consistency.

Pathan also highlighted Naman Dhir, who received his first ODI call-up for this series. Dhir was selected for his bowling prowess and offers India flexibility in the middle order. The uncapped player can bat in the lower order, move up the order when required, and bowl handy off-spin, making him a valuable addition to the squad.

"I think he is a great talent. More than his performances in domestic cricket, he has been selected for his ability to bowl. A batter who can bat lower down the order, can bat in the top order as well, and can bowl handy off-spin, a player of that type has been missing a little bit in the ODI setup," he said.

The squad includes two uncapped players in Dhir and Auqib Nabi. Ravindra Jadeja returns to the ODI setup after last featuring in the series against New Zealand in January 2026. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were both named in the squad, providing experience alongside the emerging talent.

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Several key players remain unavailable for the series due to India's Asian Games 2026 campaign in Japan, which runs from September 24 to October 3. Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan are committed to defending India's gold medal in the T20I event, creating opportunities for squad members to stake their claims during the West Indies matches.