Views about the Indian Test Squad for the West Indies Series

Selected Squad: MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav, Shami Ahmed, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma.

Default Selection

1) MS Dhoni

2) Sachin Tendulkar (this series is held for him)

3) Virat Kohli

4) Cheteshwar Pujara

5) Shikhar Dhawan

6) Murali Vijay (I do hear views of lots of people that he shouldn't be selected, but in the last test series that India played he scored two - 150+ score and one 50+ score. He was the top scorer of that series)

7) R Ashwin (he was the leading wicket taker in the last series)

8) Umesh Yadav

The above 8 will definitely make the playing XI. That leaves only 3 slots open 1 Fast bowler, 1 Spinner and batsman/all rounder at 6. 

No 6 Slot

Jadeja is rested because of injury so the # 6 will definitely go to a batsman. The toss up is between Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma. Both are selected in the 15 and it will be MSD's decision to choose who gets into the playing XI. I would personally like to see Jinx get his chance. Anyone as talented as him should get at the minimum the chances that Rohit Sharma got in ODIs (Rohit has still not played a test match)

Fast Bowler

Ishant Sharma, Bhuvaneshwar Sharma and Shami are selected in the 15. Bhuvaneshwar Sharma had a great start to his career but he has plateaued now. Do we persist with him? I would say Yes. Shami - Not sure if he will get a chance but is one of the best options we have had. Ishant Sharma should have been dropped for sure. MSD had to defend his selection for the ODIs itself. I would have loved to have Zak back in the side. He had a decent outing in Mumbai's first ranji match which ended yesterday. 

Spinners

Ojha and Mishra are selected in the 15. That is an easy decision and Bhajji is the other option we have. Ojha and Mishra have not done anything wrong. So the choice was easy. 

Except for Zak for Ishant I would have selected the same team. 

I have a very basic question - Why do we need a 15 member squad for the 2 test home series? There is no way we will play more than 2 fast bowlers then why select 4 fast bowlers?