In a colossal blow for the West Indies National Cricket Team, the 28-year-old fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against the India National Cricket Team.
This is the second major blow for the West Indies, as earlier, Shamar Joseph was ruled out of the India series due to an injury and was replaced by Johann Layne in the squad.
Alzarri Joseph ruled out of the India tour due to a back injury
West Indies and India will lock horns in a two-match Test series in October. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the Test series opener from October 2, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will host the second game from October 10.
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In their previous Test series against England, India displayed a spirited performance and would be looking forward to taking confidence from that heading into the matches against the Roston Chase-led side.
On the other hand, the West Indies were brutally thrashed by Australia in their previous series at home and suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash.
Daren Sammy, the West Indies head coach, had pinned high hopes on the pacers to deliver a good performance against India in the upcoming series to emulate the success that New Zealand achieved against India last year.
However, even before the start of the series, the West Indies have lost two frontline pacemen in Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph.
In a statement posted on X.com, Cricket West Indies (CWI) revealed that Alzarri Joseph is down with a lower back injury and he would be unavailable for the India series.
“Alzarri Joseph has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against India due to a lower back injury. After complaints of discomfort, scans revealed a degeneration of the previously resolved lower back injury,” CWI wrote on X.
Squad Update 🚨
Alzarri Joseph has been ruled out of the upcoming test series against India due to a lower back injury.
After complaints of discomfort, scans revealed a degeneration of the previously resolved lower back injury. pic.twitter.com/k4DfzLb0e7
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) September 29, 2025
Jason Holder shocks by declining selection after Alzarri Joseph gets ruled out
CWI further stated that they tried to rope in the veteran pace-bowling all-rounder Jason Holder into the squad as a replacement for Alzarri Joseph, but he denied the selection, citing a planned medical procedure.
As a result, the Cricket West Indies selection committee has been forced to include Jediah Blades in the squad as a cover for the India series.
“Meanwhile, Jediah Blades who has been capped in One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals has been drafted in as cover for the two tests following the ongoing series against Nepal.
“Jason Holder declined selection as Joseph’s replacement for the series citing a planned medical procedure,” CWI further stated.
I will say that he was very lucky to make a comeback in the Indian team – Amit Mishra on Karun Nair
Senior batter Karun Nair’s time with the Indian team ended after just one series of his comeback after eight years. After a poor showing in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee decided to axe the batter for the home Test series. Talking about this in an interaction with IANS, Amit Mishra said that the batter was lucky to even make a comeback.
“He was given a chance. I will say that he was very lucky to make a comeback in the Indian team at the age of 33. It was an opportunity for him to do well. He played so many matches, but did not perform well,” Mishra said about Nair’s exclusion.
“It happens that after a while, you have to look at the youngsters who are performing well. You have to give them a chance, and Sai Sudharsan is one of the players who will now get more opportunities, as per the thinking which is going in. The way he bats, his technique is good, he plays well, and takes time to get in and play his shots. So chances are being given to players like him, and the time is ripe to get more young players in the Test side who can turn out to be long-term assets.”
