India will have to do without ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming three-match series against West Indies. The right-handed batter has been ruled out of the series owing to his quest for a berth in the India cricket team's T20I squad for the ongoing Asian Games in Japan. The West Indies ODI series is set to begin on September 27. The next two ODIs are set to be played on 30 September and 3 October. These 50-over internationals are scheduled to take place in Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, and New Chandigarh. Without Iyer, the vice-captaincy is something India will have to decide upon. Shubman Gill is set to return to international cricket following the series after being omitted from the current T20I setup. Why Shreyas Iyer Will Miss West Indies ODI Series In October 2025, Iyer was appointed as the vice-captain of India in ODIs. But he will be unavailable for the West Indies series due to his position as the vice-captain of the T20I squad. India are set to leave for Japan for the Asian Games, where Iyer will captain the defending champions. India will play their first game on 28 September. If they qualify, then the semi-final will be held on 1 October, and the gold medal match on 3 October. The dates overlap with the West Indies ODI series, which means there is no chance of Iyer playing in both. Ahead of the Asian Games, Iyer will also lead India in their first-ever T20I match with Japan. The tournament will prove to be a tricky test for the 31-year-old as India attempts to defend their gold medal from 2023. Jasprit Bumrah is also in the Asian Games squad of India, as the team has taken a powerful set of players to Japan. Also Read | Shreyas Iyer Becomes First Indian Captain to Reach Historic Milestone After UK's Disappointing Tour Shreyas Iyer faces Big Asian Games Challenge. Iyer was brought back into the Indian T20I team as captain, succeeding Suryakumar Yadav. His selection was a significant comeback for him, as he had not been a part of the Indian T20I team since 2023. His first two series as captain were disappointing. Ireland beat India 2-0 before they went to England and were hammered 4-0 in the T20I series. In their next task, the Men in Blue failed to surprise everyone as they sealed a 3-0 series win versus the Zimbabwean team. Iyer will now get a fresh chance to prove himself as India’s T20I leader at the Asian Games. With a formidable squad at their disposal, India is in contention for gold at the event. In the meantime, the selectors will need to choose a replacement for Iyer’s vice-captaincy role for the three-match home series against the West Indies. The slots vacated by Iyer will be too big to fill, both in terms of the middle order and leadership group.