BCCI announce India squad for NZ Tests, senior players rested, Kohli to return for Mumbai Test
Ajinkya Rahane ( Image Credit: Twitter)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India have revealed the India squad for the Test series against New Zealand. The teams are set to cross swords in two Tests. The series gets underway on November 25 in Kanpur, while the second Test will be played in Mumbai from December 3.
Speaking about the squad, several key players have been rested. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur will not be part of the series. Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team in the first Test before Virat Kohli returns for the second game.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer and KS Bharat have received their maiden Test call ups, while spinner Jayant Yadav has also been recalled in the team. Wriddhiman Saha will be the first choice wicketkeeper in the absence of Pant. Despite his extended poor form, BCCI have stuck with Cheteshwar Pujara for the series.
In terms of spin bowling options, India will have the services of Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, while Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Prasidh Krishna and Umesh Yadav will comprise the pace attack. KL Rahul is likely to open alongside Shubman Gill, with Mayank Agarwal slotting in the middle order.
India squad for NZ Tests: A Rahane (C), C Pujara (VC), KL Rahul, M Agarwal, S Gill, S Iyer, W Saha (WK), KS Bharat (WK), R Jadeja, R Ashwin, A Patel, J Yadav, I Sharma, U Yadav, Md Siraj, P Krishna
India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj
