Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will command India in the first Test against New Zealand before regular skipper Virat Kohli returns for the second match, while certain all-format bigwigs have been given a chance, total respite in accordance with the BCCI’s workload management of players. Newly chosen T20 captain and regular opener Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have all been rested for the two games in Kanpur (November 25-29) and Mumbai (November 30-31). (December 3 to 7).
Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane are vying for the test captaincy
The Test series will be preceded by a three-match T20 series, which will start on November 17 in Jaipur. Kohli has decided to take a rest and will not play in the T20 series. Hanuma Vihari, who was omitted from the 16-man roster, was one of the conspicuous absentees from the Test side (will be 17 in the next Test). According to reports, Vihari has been added to the India A team for the next tour of South Africa, where he will play three matches in order to gain a spot in the main squad, which will begin its series in the last week of December.
Vihari’s defensive game is said to be comparable to that of stand-in vice-captain Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane, who will bat at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. The inclusion of a more flamboyant Iyer is to allow him to play a counter-attacking knock against the second new ball. The same goes with Mayank Agarwal if he is not used in his usual opening position and is dropped down the order. Interestingly, all three openers in the team – KL Rahul, Agarwal, and Shubman Gill – have batted in the middle order in Tests and first-class matches at some time in their careers.
