Photo via The Hindu

Bumrah and Akash return to Indian Test squad for New Zealand tour

India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand has been reshaped with key additions and strategic rotations, as selectors prioritize the World Test Championship (WTC) over immediate ODI World Cup preparations. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep return to the lineup after a lengthy break, with Deep regaining his spot following strong performances in the Irani Cup and Ranji Trophy.

The 16-member Test team also includes Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Rishabh Pant—though Pant’s inclusion hinges on his fitness assessment at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Meanwhile, the ODI squad splits into two groups, with Shubman Gill leading the first three matches before handing the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer for the final two ODIs, as key players like Gill, K.L.

Rahul, and Prasidh prepare for the Test series. Yashasvi Jaiswal, excluded from the ODI squad, will instead feature in all three Test matches against India A in New Zealand, offering him acclimatization time ahead of the four-day fixtures.

The series begins with ODIs in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton before shifting to Mount Maunganui for the Tests, marking a critical phase in India’s WTC campaign, where they must secure at least six of their remaining seven Tests to stay in contention for the final.

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