New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced the 15-player squad for the upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand, which kicks off on October 16 in Bengaluru. The squad, led by Rohit Sharma, remains largely unchanged from the team that swept Bangladesh 2-0 in their previous Test series.
Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier pacer, has been officially appointed as vice-captain for the series, marking a significant leadership role for him in the longest format. In the previous series, the vice-captaincy position was left vacant.
Among the younger players, Delhi’s fiery pacer Mayank Yadav, who recently debuted in the T20I series against Bangladesh, has been included as a traveling reserve. Joining him are Harshit Rana, Nitish Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna. Reddy also made his debut for India in the ongoing T20I series against Bangladesh.
India enters the series on a strong note, having extended their dominant home record, not losing a Test series on home soil since 2012. Their recent triumphs, particularly in Chennai and Kanpur, have further solidified their stature as a formidable Test side.
Captain @ImRo45 collects the @IDFCFIRSTBank Trophy from BCCI Vice President Mr. @ShuklaRajiv 👏👏#TeamIndia complete a 2⃣-0⃣ series victory in Kanpur 🙌
Scorecard – https://t.co/JBVX2gyyPf#INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/Wrv3iNfVDz
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 1, 2024
New Zealand, however, has faced contrasting fortunes. Their ongoing tour of Asia has been challenging, with the Black Caps yet to secure a win in the subcontinent. The Kiwis’ campaign began with a rain-washed Test against Afghanistan, followed by a 2-0 defeat in a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The first Test ended in a narrow 63-run loss, while the second saw them crushed by an innings and 154 runs, with Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis stealing the show.
The three-Test series will commence in Bengaluru on October 16. The second match is slated for October 24 in Pune, while the final Test will take place in Mumbai at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, starting on November 1.
Team India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
