Ruturaj Gaikwad IN, Injured Player Set To Return: Predicted India Squad For Test Series Vs New Zealand

Ruturaj Gaikwad IN, Injured Player Set To Return: Predicted India Squad For Test Series Vs New Zealand Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS India's next Test assignment will be a three-match series vs New Zealand.

Ruturaj Gaikwad might return in the squad.

An injured star can also finally come back.

India announced their return to Test Cricket after 8 months in style as they whitewashed Bangladesh by a margin of 2-0. The next time that the Rohit Sharma-led side will take the field in whites is the three-match Test Series against New Zealand which begins on October 16. This will be a crucial Test series for India as if they win all e three matches, they could ensure themselves a spot in the final of the World Test Championship for a third straight time in 2025. There could also be some major additions to the side in the three-match series as well.

Ruturaj Gaikwad To Return In Test Side

Ruturaj Gaikwad is currently captaining the Rest of India side against Mumbai in the Irani Cup 2024. He will miss the T20I series against Bangladesh , as there are reports that the team management wants him to focus on red-ball cricket as they are considering him as a serious opening option for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in November. To prepare him for this series, Gaikwad can be included in the squad for the New Zealand series, in addition to regular openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma.

Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul will be the starting middle-order batters with Sarfaraz Khan as backup. Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel are set to be the two wicket-keeper batters in the side.

Mohammad Shami To Return From Injury

Mohammad Shami last played for India in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia. Since then, he has been out with an injury to his ankle, even undergoing a surgery. There are reports that the team management wants him to be fit and ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and for that, they could let him play vs New Zealand to get back into the groove.

Jasprit Bumrah will be leading the pace attack alongside Shami, with Mohammad Siraj and Akash Deep being the other two fast bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be the two frontline spinners, with Kuldeep Yadab and Axar Patel serving as backups.

India Predicted Squad For Test Series Vs New Zealand:

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Akash Deep, Mohammad Siraj

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