India Announces 15-Man Squad for Test Series Against New Zealand; Mohammed Shami Still Recovering

Mumbai: India has unveiled its 15-man squad for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, set to begin in Bengaluru on October 16. Most of the squad remains unchanged from India’s recent series win against Bangladesh.

Mohammed Shami, a mainstay in India’s pace attack, continues to miss out as he recovers from an injury that has sidelined him since the Men’s World Cup final against Australia in November last year. His absence opens opportunities for other fast bowlers, but his continued unavailability raises questions about his recovery timeline and impact on India’s future tours.

Jasprit Bumrah has been named vice-captain of the team. Bumrah’s leadership qualities will be tested as India looks to maintain its momentum from the successful Bangladesh series, where they won 2-0.

Left-arm pacer Yash Dayal, who was the 16th member of the squad in Bangladesh, has been left out for the New Zealand series. However, India has named three fast bowlers—Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna—as travelling reserves, providing depth to the pace department. Nitish Reddy, an all-rounder, has also been included as a travelling reserve, adding a versatile option for the team.

The squad features a mix of experience and youth, with stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja leading the charge alongside emerging talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan. Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant have been named as wicketkeeping options, ensuring flexibility behind the stumps.

India’s 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, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep