India’s predicted XI for Test series against New Zealand

India will face their ICC events-spoilers New Zealand in a three-match T20I series and a two-match Test series. The first Test will commence on 25^th November after the end of the T20I series. India will definitely have a rage against the Kiwis for defeating them in the ICC World Test Championship finals and in the T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the squad for the 1^st Test match has been announced by the BCCI. The players mentioned in the squad for the first match are- Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Many players have got their maiden Test call as some of the regular players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Rohit Sharma, and Rishab Pant have been rested. Virat Kohli will most likely join and lead the second Test match which is to be held at Wankhede stadium, let’s take a look at-

India Predicted playing 11 for Test series against New Zealand

1. Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal is a top-order right-handed batter who has the style of Virender Sehwag in his batting. He is known for his aggressive batting technique. This player debuted for the Indian Test team in 2018 and he scored 76 and 42 in his first two innings itself and proved his ability.

He has played 14 Tests and has scored 1052 runs with an amusing average of 45.73. This 30-year-old batter converted his maiden Test century as his first double hundred against South Africa in 2019.

He again hit a double century against Bangladesh and recorded his highest Test score of 243 and also became the third-fastest Indian to reach 1000 runs. But after his failures against Australia in WTC, he lost his place to Shubman Gill. He will be hoping to make this comeback a memorable one.

2. Kl Rahul

Kl Rahul, the classy Indian player hails from the soil of the wall of the Indian cricket team-Rahul Dravid. His batting skills alone are enough to select him in the squad, but he is also an amazing wicketkeeper like his idol Dravid.

He made his Test debut in 2014’s Boxing Day Test and he batted at numbers 6 and 3 in his first two innings but failed to get past the single-digit score. When he got his favourite opening position in his second match, he hit his maiden Test century.

This 29-year-old player has played 40 Test matches and has scored 2321 runs with six centuries under his kitty. Rahul missed the opportunity of hitting his maiden double hundred by just one run against England. He has a better average when he opens the batting for India and most probably would open the innings against the Kiwis.

3. Cheteshwar Pujara

The tailor-made player of the Test format and the modern wall of the Indian Test cricket team is Cheteshwar Pujara. He is a right-handed top-order batter. He is known for his temperament and defensive batting skills and is a nightmare for the opposition bowlers.

He is 33 years of age now and has been playing this format since 2010 amongst legendary players like Sehwag, Sachin, Dravid, and Laxman. He took the responsibilities of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman after their retirement.

He has played 90 Test matches and has scored 6494 runs having 31 half-centuries, 18 centuries, and three double centuries. But one worrying factor is that his last century came in 2019 against Australia and has struggled to convert his 50’s to 100’s since then. However, the matches are held on home soil and can be in his favour to turn around his form.

4. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is the latest prodigy of the Indian cricket team. He is just 22 years old. He made it to the Indian Test team against Australia in 2020 and impressed everyone with his composure at a very young age.

He scored 45 and 35* runs in his debut match against a fiery Australian side in Melbourne. And in the fourth Test match against Australia, he scored his highest run of 91 which aided in the victory of India.

He has played 8 Test matches and has scored 414 runs with an average of 31.84. According to some sources and as some senior players suggested, he could be tried in the middle order in this series against New Zealand.

5. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane, the regular vice-captain of the Indian Test team will be captaining the Indian side in the first match against New Zealand in absence of the constant Test skipper Virat Kohli. He is a middle-order batter and is a contrary skipper to his ally Kohli.

Rahane made his Test debut against Australia in 2013. His maiden Test ton came in 2014 against New Zealand and has been consistent in the squad for his away records. He has played 78 Test matches and has scored 4756 runs with an average of 39.63.

His captaincy record also has been phenomenal. In 5 matches the team has won 4 matches under his captaincy, and he was also the leader for the famous win against Australia at Gabba which eventually led to the triumph of the series.

6. Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha is a 37-year-old wicketkeeping-batter who represents the Indian Test cricket team. He is a lower middle-order batter. He debuted for the team in 2010 against South Africa as a batter under MS Dhoni.

Saha’s chances opened when the legendary keeper MS Dhoni retired from Test cricket in 2014. He was replaced as the keeper and justified his position only with the glove back then. In 2017, he became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score centuries at home as well as outside Asia.

He has played 38 Test matches and has scored 1251 runs, averaging 29.09. He has hit three centuries and five half-centuries in his career. Saha would play the first Test match as the regular-keeper as Rishabh Pant is rested.

7. Ravindra Jadeja

‘Sir’ Ravindra Jadeja is the prime all-rounder of the Indian cricket team. He is a left-handed batter and a left-arm orthodox bowler. His contributions in batting, bowling and fielding have made him a perfect three-dimensional player.

Jadeja played his first Test match against England in 2012. He was initially known for his contributions with the ball, but in recent times he has improved a lot with his batting too. Jadeja scored his first and only century in 2018.

In 56 Test matches he played, he has scored 2145 runs with an average of 34.05 and has taken 227 wickets which includes nine 5-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul. He along with Ashwin would be the spin duos in the first Test match.

8. Ravi Ashwin

The Indian cricket team must be grateful to have the modern-day Test legend Ravi Ashwin to be in the team. The red spin ball suits the best when it is in his hands. He is one of the bowlers who could make the batters trouble in an inevitable manner.

He debuted in the whites in 2011 against West Indies. His records in this format of the game are brilliant. He became the fastest bowler to pick 250, 300, and 350 wickets in the World. His batting is also something that has been very impressive.

This 35-year-old Chennai lad is the only player to hit a hundred and to get a 5 wicket haul in an innings. In his 79 Test matches, he has grabbed 413 wickets with 30 5-wicket hauls and seven 10-wicket hauls and has hit 5 centuries with his bat. He is the go-to spinner of any captain in a Test match.

9. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav, the right-arm fast bowler from UP has not been a regular member in the playing 11. Having made his debut in 2011, he has played only 49 matches. But he has done well with the ball in home conditions in the last couple of years. His seaming bouncers and swinging deliveries are his highlights.

He has been the go-to bowler for Virat when it’s reversing and he has played 28 matches at home and has picked 96 wickets with an average of 24.54 including two 5-fors.

Umesh looked in good rhythm playing in England dismissing Joe root with beauty, and this series being held at home, Umesh will surely play an important role.

10. Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma, the tall Indian pacer is India’s most experienced and the senior-most pacer currently. He is a proper Test match length bowler with seeming and swinging deliveries. He’s India’s 6th leading wicket-taker in Tests and only the 3rd Indian to pick 300+ Test wickets. He has been a regular member of the Test squad but had to miss a few gamess in recent times due to his injuries.

He made a comeback to the side in England but couldn’t create a big impact.  He has grabbed 311 test wickets in 104 matches for India with eleven 5-fors. He’s yet to return back to his best but has often been very economical in recent times.

With three 5-fors and 38 wickets in 8 games against NZ, he’ll look to prove his worth and win games for India in this upcoming series which will decide his future in the Test scenario. He would be leading the Indian seam bowling attack.

11. Mohammed Siraj

The 27-year-old right-arm medium pacer, Mohammed Siraj made it to the Indian Test squad after strong domestic performances picking up 41 wickets in nine Ranji trophy games in his second season playing for Hyderabad.

He made his Test debut against the Mighty Aussies at the MCG in 2020 and has impressed everyone with his performance and his fearless attitude. He led the Indian pace attack in his 2nd Test in the absence of Bumrah and Shami in Australia and won the game with his maiden 5-fer.

He has played a total of nine Tests and has taken 30 wickets with an average of 29.4. He is very good at bringing the ball into the right-handed batters and has got a quick bouncer too. He might be an automatic choice in the playing 11 in the absence of the senior Indian pacers.