New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced the Indian squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. Ajinkya Rahane has been named the captain for the first Test match, while Cheteshwar Pujara has been named the vice-captain. The first match is scheduled to be played in Green Park Stadium, Kanpur.
Newly appointed T20 skipper and regular opener Rohit Sharma has been rested for the Test series while regular skipper Virat Kohli will join the squad from the second Test. Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur have been rested from India’s home Test series against New Zealand.
“Virat Kohli will join the squad for the second Test and will lead the team,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.
In Rohit’s unavailability India have brought back Mayank Agarwal, either he or Shubman Gill are likely to open the batting with KL Rahul. Gill could also take up a slot in the middle-order. Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer also made a comeback. While Wriddhiman Saha and KS Bharat are added to the squad as the wicket-keepers.
India’s pacers for the Test series include Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. Among the spinners, R Ashwin and Axar Patel and Jayant Yadav has been named.
The NZ home series not only kick starts the home season but also marks a new era as Rahul Dravid takes over as coach from Ravi Shastri. The Test series will be preceded by a three-match T20 series.
India’s Test squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
