Ajinkya Rahane — who will be the captain in the first Test at Kanpur in the absence of Virat Kohli — has already been practicing at BKC for the last three days, revealed sources.
Even as India takes on New Zealand in the 3 matches T20I series from November 17, their Test specialists will undergo a four-day camp at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) from Monday, ahead of the two-Test series against the Kiwis.
Ajinkya Rahane Among Test Specialists To Train At BKC Ahead Of 2 Tes Series Vs NZ
Apart from Ajinkya Rahane, those who will train are openers Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill, middle-order batters Cheteshwar Pujara, wicketkeepers Wriddhiman Saha and KS Bharat, off-spinner Jayant Yadav, and pacers Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Prasidh Krishna.
Jayant Yadav, who returned to the team after 4 years, played his last Test against Australia in 2017 while newcomers Shreyas Iyer and Prasidh Krishna got a place in the Indian Test team. Jayant Yadav made his Test debut against England in Vizag in 2016. So far he has taken 11 wickets in 4 Tests. He picked 9 wickets in 3 Tests against England and 2 scalps in a solitary Test against Australia way back in 2017.
Prasidh Krishna, Shreyas Iyer, And KS Bharat Are Uncapped In Tests
Prasidh Krishna, who was included in India’s main squad ahead of their 4th Test against England at the Oval in September but was not part of the playing eleven, also finds a place in the team. The first Test will kick off in Kanpur on November 25.
Shreyas Iyer has received a maiden Test callup and KS Bharat has been included as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 16-man squad for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand. Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant have all been rested for the two-Test series while Virat Kohli will return as captain in the second Test.
Hanuma Vihari has been overlooked for the Test series, and Shreyas Iyer was drafted into the Test squad. Shreyas Iyer has not played a single Test match for the Indian side. Middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has been reportedly brought into the Indian squad for the New Zealand Test series as a possible backup for out-of-form players, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Hanuma Vihari, the supposed backup option in the middle-order, was left out of the Indian squad but was named in India ‘A’ team for the South Africa tour.
“The BCCI asked us to organize this camp at a very short notice. However, we’re very happy to organize it,” a source in Mumbai Cricket Association told TOI on Saturday.
The wicket at BKC has been prepared by veteran curator Nadim Memon.
India’s Test Team:- Ajinkya Rahane (c), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (VC), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna. ** Virat Kohli (2nd Test only).