New Zealand Cricket (NZC) selectors, on Wednesday, November 11, named a strong 14-man Test squad for their upcoming two-game series at home against India. The two-match Test series will begin in Wellington at the Basin Reserve on Thursday, November 19.
According to an official NZC statement, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra are close to regaining full match fitness and are expected to be available for the opening Test. Meanwhile, injuries have ruled Ben Sears, Zak Foulkes and Will O’Rourke out of the Test squad.
“Tom Blundell (quadricep), Devon Conway (concussion), and Rachin Ravindra (shoulder), are working through their respective injuries and aiming to be available for the first Test. New Zealand’s squad has a similar look to the Test side that toured England earlier this year, with the exceptions of Ben Sears (ankle injury), Zak Foulkes (hip injury), and Will O’Rourke (return-to-play programme), and the addition of Jacob Duffy,” an NZC statement said.
This will be New Zealand’s first Test series with India since the team’s remarkable 3-0 Test series victory in 2024.
New Zealand’s Test squad vs India
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young
New Zealand v India Test Series Schedule
1st Test – November 19 to 23 – Basin Reserve, Wellington
2nd Test – November 27 to December 2 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
On the other hand, New Zealand head coach Rob Walter asserted that the whole squad is eager to lock horns with Team India in the two-game Test series.
“This series marks the start of an exciting summer of Test cricket for the BLACKCAPS. The squad is largely consistent with the team that competed in England earlier this year, so it’ll be great to be back together to try and recreate some of that success on home soil,” Walter said.
