Team India Test Squad vs NZ announced – Rohit rested

Team India announced 17-member squad for the upcoming 2-match home Test series against New Zealand. Ajinkya Rahane has been named the captain for the first Test Test while Virat Kohli will resume his duties for the second Test. Kohli has been rested for the 3 match T20I series and the first Test against Blackcaps.

Wriddhiman Saha and Kona Srikar Bharat are named as the wicket-keepers in the squad while Rishabh Pant didn’t make the cut. The other star cricketers who were rested are Rohit Sharma, Jasrpit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. The other pacers in the squad include Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

Shreyas Iyer has been included in the Test squad and could make his debut in the absence of Virat Kohli.

The all-important spin unit has the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel and Jayant Yadav in it. Washington Sundar’s absence gives Jayant a chance after the Pune Test against Australia in 2017.

Team India Test squad vs New Zealand:

Ajinkya Rahane (Captain for first Test), Virat Kohli Captain for second) KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Shubman Gill made his way back in to the squad after missing the tour of England due to injury concerns. He last played for India in the whites during the World Test Championship Final.

Prithvi Shaw, Hanuma Vihari, Suryakumar Yadav and Abhimanyu Easwaran who were a part of Indian squad touring England – didn’t make the cut either. The surprise exclusion of Vihari could raise a few eyes brows.

The first Test begins on November 25 at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium while the second Test is set to take place at Mumbai from December 3.