On Friday, the BCCI announced the squad for the upcoming two-match series sat home against New Zealand. The All-India Senior Selection Committee picked the squad for the two-match Test series starting scheduled to be commencing on November 25. Newly appointed T20 captain and regular opener Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have all been rested as part of BCCI’s workload management policy.
In a statement regarding teh same, BCCI secretary, Jay Shah said, “Virat Kohli will join the squad for the second Test and will lead the team.” Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer made a comeback in the Test squad along with off-spinner Jayant Yadav.
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India will play New Zealand in three T20Is (November 17, 19, and 21) and a couple of Tests (November 25-29 and December 3-7). The first Test will be played at Kanpur and the second will take place in Mumbai.
#TeamIndia 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
*Virat Kohli will join the squad for the 2nd Test and will lead the team. pic.twitter.com/FqU7xdHpjQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 12, 2021
India’s Test squad for NZ series: Ajinkya Rahane (c), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vc), Shubman Gill, S Iyer, Wriddiman Saha (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, J Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohd Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Rohit Sharma will be leading the Indian team in the T20I series against New Zealand. The squad for the series was officially announced on Tuesday, with Virat Kohli, who has resigned as T20I skipper, being rested. Among the other notable exclusions are all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja as well as pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
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With the squad announcement coming right after a dismal outing for the Indian team as they witnessed an early exit from the T20 World Cup, there was much talk of infusion of some youngsters. In keeping with that sentiment and perhaps with an eye on the impending T20 World Cup in Australia next year, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer, who have scored heavily in the IPL this year, have been brought in.
A lot of fans were not happy with the exclusion of Hanuman Vihari for teh Test series against India, however, a few hours after the announcement of eth Test squad, BCCI confirmed that he has been added into India ‘A’ squad for the South Africa tour. It seems to be a cunning decision by the selectors as Team India will be touring the Rainbow nation after the conclusion New Zealand series.
🚨 UPDATE: @Hanumavihari has been added to the India 'A' squad for the South Africa tour. https://t.co/ISYgtlw1S1 pic.twitter.com/uy3UD1pCN5
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 12, 2021
Veteran commentator, Harsha Bhogle was unhappy with the exclusion of Hanuman Vihari as he tweeted: “Am I missing something here? I cannot see a reason why #HanumaVihari is not in the test squad for #IndvsNZ. Injury? Can’t be on cricketing grounds….there hasn’t been any first-class cricket. Surely it can’t be right. His last innings for India was that heroic effort at Sydney.”
Am I missing something here? I cannot see a reason why #HanumaVihari is not in the test squad for #IndvsNZ. Injury? Can't be on cricketing grounds….there hasn't been any first-class cricket. Surely it can't be right. His last innings for India was that heroic effort at Sydney.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 12, 2021
