Revealed: Why Shubman Gill and Akash Deep are not playing today's match vs New Zealand and who have replaced them?

India is currently taking on New Zealand in the three-match Test series opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The Indian cricket team is in full confidence as they are coming into this Test series on the back of a 2-0 whitewash of Bangladesh, and they also have an added advantage of home conditions and would love to continue their momentum.

On Thursday, October 17, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first against the New Zealand cricket team. He confirmed two changes in India’s playing XI that faced Bangladesh in the recent two-match Test series at home.

Shubman Gill misses out first India vs New Zealand Test due to injury

Young batting sensation Shubman Gill and the star pacer Akash Deep are not playing in the first Test of the ongoing three-match Test series between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, India overlooked Akash Deep for tactical reasons.

Shubman Gill was unavailable for selection due to neck stiffness for the first Test against the Kiwis.

Shubman Gill was replaced by another batting sensation, Sarfaraz Khan, in India’s playing XI for the first Test against the New Zealand cricket team. Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan didn’t get the chance in either match against Bangladesh whereas Shubman Gill played both the games vs Bangladesh.

On the other hand, the Indian cricket team went with a heavy spin attack to make the most of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium conditions with an aim to have an early lead in the ongoing three-match Test series against the New Zealand cricket team.

Akash Deep misses first Test as India opts for spin-friendly attack for Bengaluru Test

The Bengaluru surface offers enough help to the spinners, and the hosts went with three spin specialists, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja, resulting in Akash Deep missing out on the first Test against New Zealand. Akash Deep played in both Tests against Bangladesh.

The pacer from Bengal was replaced by the Chinese bowler Kuldeep Yadav in India’s XI for the three-match Test series opener against New Zealand. Well, Team India’s pace attack will be headed by the premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, and he will be assisted by Mohammed Siraj.

You want to get the result as much as we want: Rohit Sharma

After winning the toss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma stated, “We are going to have a bat first. It has been under the covers, and we do understand that it could be slightly sticky early on, but the nature of the pitch is such that you would want to put runs on the board first. You want to get the result as much as we want.

We assess where we are and decide what needs to be done as a team. India have played well in the last few Test matches. Fresh series for us, and we want to start well. From the last two Test changes, Shubman Gill misses out, and Sarfaraz comes in. Kuldeep comes in for Akash.”

Here are Playing XIs for India vs New Zealand 1st Test:

New Zealand’s Playing XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (w), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, and William Orourke

India’s Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj