After India defeated New Zealand by a whopping 5-0 lead in the T20 series, some major changes have been seen as BCCI announced the ODI and Test squad against New Zealand on Tuesday.
India’s hit-man Rohit Sharma will be rested due to injury in the ODI and Test series and Mayank Agarwal will be seen replacing. Rohit had suffered a calf injury during the last T20I match on Sunday and later was ruled out of the remaining tour. Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini will also be making a comeback to Test team. Shaw made comeback to Test squad after some excellent domestic season. He had been banned for eight months for doping violation.
“Rohit Sharma sustained a left calf muscle strain during the fifth T20I against New Zealand at Tauranga on Sunday. He underwent an MRI scan in Hamilton on Monday. The opening batsman has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI and the Test series and will be referred to the National Cricket Academy for further management of his injury,” a statement was released by the BCCI.
India’s leading bowler Jasprit Bumrah will make a come back to Test cricket after his injury. Shubham Gill will also return to Test squad after his brilliant performance against New Zealand A. Ajinkya Rahane will also be seen with the Test team after a long wait. Ishant Sharma has also been included in the Test squad, however, his appearance on the field will be subjected to a fitness consent.
The Test series against New Zealand is scheduled to begin on 21 February in Wellington. Whereas, the ODI series begins on 5th February.
Test Squad: Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubham Gill, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma.