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West Indies are set to begin their two-match Test series against Bangladesh on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. The opening fixture is part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle and presents an important opportunity for the visitors to improve their position in the standings.
Led by Roston Chase, the Caribbean side will face a challenging test against a Bangladesh team playing in familiar home conditions. The hosts possess a combination of experienced batters, quality spinners and an improving pace attack, meaning West Indies will need a balanced playing XI capable of handling both spin and seam.
West Indies have made some notable changes to their squad. White-ball captain Shai Hope has been rested, while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph is unavailable as the team manages his workload. Keemo Paul was initially named as Joseph’s replacement but subsequently withdrew for personal reasons, with Shamar Springer joining the squad instead.
Here’s a look at the predicted West Indies playing XI for 1st Test:
John Campbell is expected to open the innings after returning to fitness following a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Pakistan series. His presence will be important as West Indies look to establish a solid foundation against Bangladesh’s new-ball bowlers. Campbell will need to show patience early on and avoid giving the hosts opportunities to strike during the opening session.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul is another likely opener for the visitors. Known for his compact technique, the left-hander could play a key role in neutralising Bangladesh’s pace attack and wearing down the bowlers. His ability to occupy the crease will be particularly valuable if the pitch begins to assist the spinners as the match progresses.
Brandon King could feature in the top order, bringing attacking intent to a batting line-up that will need to balance caution with scoring opportunities. His ability to find gaps and punish loose deliveries could help West Indies maintain momentum after the opening partnership. The challenge will be adapting his game to the demands of red-ball cricket in Bangladesh.
Kavem Hodge is expected to strengthen the middle order. His role will be to build partnerships and prevent Bangladesh from exploiting any early breakthroughs. Against a bowling attack that includes experienced spinners, Hodge will need to use his feet intelligently, rotate the strike and remain disciplined outside off stump.
Captain Roston Chase will be central to West Indies’ plans with both bat and ball. His experience and ability to contribute with off-spin make him a valuable option in Asian conditions. Chase will also have to manage his bowling resources carefully, particularly if Bangladesh’s batters settle into long partnerships.
As captain, his tactical decisions regarding field placements, bowling changes and the use of spin could significantly influence the outcome of the opening Test.
Justin Greaves offers West Indies flexibility as a batting all-rounder. He can provide stability in the middle order and contribute useful seam overs when required. His inclusion would allow Chase to rotate the frontline bowlers while maintaining pressure on Bangladesh. Greaves will be expected to support the specialist batters and make his opportunities count.
Joshua Da Silva is likely to take the wicketkeeping duties and occupy a crucial position in the lower middle order. His ability to contribute runs alongside his work behind the stumps makes him an important member of the side. He will also need to remain alert against Bangladesh’s spinners, whose variations could create opportunities for dismissals.
Vice-captain Jomel Warrican is expected to lead West Indies’ spin attack. His left-arm orthodox bowling could be particularly effective on a Mirpur surface that offers assistance to slower bowlers. Warrican’s accuracy and ability to build pressure will be important, especially during the middle sessions when batters attempt to consolidate.
Joshua Bishop could provide the visitors with a second specialist spin option. Including another spinner would give Chase greater flexibility on a surface traditionally associated with spin-friendly conditions. Bishop will need to maintain a consistent line and length while using variations in flight to force Bangladesh’s batters into mistakes.
Jayden Seales is expected to spearhead the pace attack alongside Shamar Joseph. His ability to generate movement and attack the stumps could help West Indies make early breakthroughs. Seales will need to remain disciplined with the new ball and deliver sustained spells to prevent Bangladesh from establishing control.
Shamar Joseph completes the predicted XI as a strike bowler capable of unsettling batters with pace and aggression. His role will be to provide breakthroughs when partnerships develop and support Seales in the opening spells. He could be especially important if West Indies need to reverse the momentum during a difficult session.
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