After winning the Test series in Sri Lanka 1-0, India’s next Test assignment will be in New Zealand, where they will play two Tests, apart from five ODIs and five T20Is. India will aim to win both the tests to keep their WTC 2027 final qualification hopes alive.
However, India has not won a Test in New Zealand since the 2009/10 season. They have lost all the tests since then, and a change from Indian conditions in New Zealand will also see a change in personnel. There are some big changes expected, and we take a look at three players who might miss out on the New Zealand Test series.
Here are the 3 Indian players from the Sri Lankan tour who might not be selected for the New Zealand Test series:
3. Saransh Jain
Saransh Jain made his India debut in Tests in Sri Lanka in the second match in Colombo. He was the oldest Indian Test debutant at 33 in the 21st century, but his performance on a pitch that assisted spin was below par. He managed just 3 wickets across two innings, and his lack of variety to trouble top batters was exposed. New Zealand conditions are cold, and the pitches have 1-3 mm of grass on them to aid pace bowlers. This means India will not carry more than 2 spinners in their Indian squad, and Saransh Jain will not be one of those.
2. Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan earned an India recall after two years for the Sri Lanka Test series but didn’t get to play one game. Sarfaraz Khan had a good run in the middle order, but continuous failures with the bat and issues with fitness led to him getting dropped from the Indian squad. It is expected that Sai Sudharsan will retain his spot in the India squad after injury, and Devdutt Padikkal will continue in the XI. Therefore, there is no space for Sarfaraz Khan in the New Zealand Test squad. Also, his batting is untested in pace-friendly conditions, while Padikkal and Sudharsan have proven their worth in the middle order.
1. Auqib Nabi
With a spot in the WTC 2027 final on the line, the BCCI will want India to have the best pace unit for the New Zealand Tests. This means the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna will be automatic choices, and expect Jasprit Bumrah in the squad as well after regaining full fitness. India might want Nitish Reddy as the pace all-rounder or have Arshdeep Singh or Akash Deep for the option of having a swing bowler handy. Auqib Nabi is more of a seamer than a swing bowler and might not get the green light.
