DDCA director Vikas Katyal appointed India team manager for West Indies series
Synopsis
DDCA director Vikas Katyal has been named manager of the Indian cricket team for a packed home series against West Indies — 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is across eight cities starting 27 September. Shubman Gill leads the ODI side with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the mix; Shreyas Iyer captains the T20Is alongside rising stars Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Tilak Varma.
Key Takeaways
Vikas Katyal , director of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) , has been appointed manager of the Indian cricket team for the West Indies home series.
The series begins on 27 September and features 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is across 8 cities .
Shubman Gill will captain the ODI side; Shreyas Iyer will lead the T20I team.
Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are part of the ODI squad.
India hold a 67-63 ODI head-to-head lead over West Indies from 142 matches, and a 19-10 advantage in T20Is from 30 games.
Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) director Vikas Katyal has been appointed as the manager of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming home series against the West Indies, the state association announced on Wednesday, 23 September. The series, comprising three ODIs and five T20Is, gets underway on 27 September.
Series Schedule and Venues
The ODI leg opens in Thiruvananthapuram on 27 September, before shifting to Guwahati and New Chandigarh. The T20I segment follows across five cities — Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru — making it one of the most geographically spread bilateral series India has hosted in recent memory.
India's Squad and Leadership
Shubman Gill will captain the ODI side, with senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also named in the squad. The T20I team will be led by Shreyas Iyer and features a blend of established names and emerging talent. Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma are among the players included in the T20I group.
What DDCA Said
The DDCA described Katyal's appointment as a moment of pride for the association. 'This is a proud occasion for the entire DDCA fraternity, as one of its directors has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the Indian cricket team. DDCA congratulates Katyal on this prestigious appointment and wishes him and Team India every success for the West Indies series to be played in India,' the association said in a statement.
India's Head-to-Head Record Against West Indies
India enter the series with a strong historical record against the West Indies. In ODIs, India have won 67 of their 142 meetings, with West Indies claiming 63 victories; two matches ended in ties and four produced no result. In T20Is, India hold a 19-10 advantage from 30 encounters, with one match producing no result. The two sides last met in the T20 World Cup, where India defeated West Indies by five wickets at Eden Gardens on 1 March this year.
Significance of the Appointment
Katyal's elevation to team manager marks a notable milestone for Delhi cricket administration. The role of team manager is a logistical and liaison-critical position, responsible for coordinating between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), support staff, and players during the tour. With India fielding near-full squads in both formats, the series carries added weight as preparation for upcoming international commitments. All eyes will be on the Thiruvananthapuram opener on 27 September as the new management setup gets its first test.
Point of View
However, is the dual-captaincy structure: Gill in ODIs, Iyer in T20Is, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli present but not in command. That hierarchy will be closely watched. How senior pros adapt to a support role in a bilateral series against a mid-tier side will tell us something about India's format-specific succession planning — and whether the BCCI's transition strategy is deliberate or still in flux.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vikas Katyal and why has he been appointed India team manager?
Vikas Katyal is a director of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) , appointed as manager of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming home series against West Indies. The DDCA announced the appointment on 23 September , describing it as a proud occasion for the association.
When and where does the India vs West Indies series start?
The series begins on 27 September in Thiruvananthapuram with the first ODI. The three-match ODI leg then moves to Guwahati and New Chandigarh , followed by five T20Is in Lucknow , Ranchi , Indore , Hyderabad , and Bengaluru .
Who will captain India in the ODIs and T20Is against West Indies?
Shubman Gill will lead India in the three ODIs, while Shreyas Iyer has been named T20I captain. Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are included in the ODI squad.
What is India's head-to-head record against West Indies?
In ODIs, India have won 67 of 142 matches against West Indies, who have won 63 . In T20Is, India lead 19-10 from 30 games. The teams last met at the T20 World Cup on 1 March , when India won by five wickets at Eden Gardens.
Which young players are included in India's T20I squad for the West Indies series?
The T20I squad features emerging talent including Abhishek Sharma , Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , Ishan Kishan , Sanju Samson , and Tilak Varma , alongside more experienced names under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer .
