Mumbai, Nov 12 (FN Agency) Contrary to media reports, BCCI on Friday announced Ajinkya Rahane as the Test captain of Team India, scotching rumours that Rohit Sharma would be asked to lead the side in the upcoming home series against New Zealand. Announcing the squad, BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah confirmed the selection of Rahane as the Test captain and Virat Kohli joining the squad for the second Test to lead the team against NZ. There is no Rohit Sharma in the team.
He has rested keeping in mind the task of workload management. Media reports had suggested that he had requested the BCCI to rest him for the Test series against New Zealand. But, he will be leading Team India T20 series against the visiting side. It will be interesting, however, who would open the innings with KL Rahul in Rohit’s absence for the Test series. Will it be Shubman Gill or Mayank Agarwal? Time will tell. With no Kohli in the middle-order for the first Test, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane have a big task of managing the middle order, with Shreyas Iyer being a youngster in the side. BCCI also have picked up Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, who are handy with bat and bowl. Ashwin and Jadeja will lead the spin attack and also give other batsmen a backup. Axar will only be included if the tracks allow so. With no Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha will be making his comeback in the playing XI as the wicketkeeper after nearly a year. He will be joined by KS Bharat. He is yet to earn his maiden Test call-up. India will play two Test matches against New Zealand. The first Test will be played, beginning November 25, in Kanpur and the second Test will be held in Mumbai from December 3.
India’s Test squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.