Washington Sundar added to India squad for New Zealand Tests as Ravindra Jadeja struggles in Bengaluru

India National Cricket Team have added all-rounder Washington Sundar to the squad for the second Test against the New Zealand National Cricket Team. The second game between the teams is all set to take place from 24th October in Pune, Maharashtra.

The all-rounder is currently part of the Tamil Nadu squad for the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Washington Sundar will be joining the Indian team in Pune, while a report in Sportstar claimed that Baba Indrajith and Sai Sudharsan will be part of the India A squad for the Australia tour and will leave after the Ranji game against Delhi.

Washington Sundar has been called up by India for the second Test against New Zealand. B Indrajith and Sai Sudharsan are part of the India A squad for Australia. They will leave after the Ranji game against Delhi. @TheHinduSports @sportstarweb

— Vivek Krishnan (@vivek9301) October 20, 2024

Washington Sundar, despite performing well for the India National Cricket Team in Tests, has been kept on the sidelines. The all-rounder has played four Tests for the team and has amassed 265 runs at an impressive average of 66.25, along with six wickets.

But due to the presence of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the team, Sundar has been unlucky to get a place. The all-rounder, however, has been a regular member of the India National Cricket Team in white-ball cricket and has been a consistent performer for the team in T20Is and ODIs.

BCCI releases official statement on Washington Sundar joining team for New Zealand Tests

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released an official statement about the same. They also confirmed that the all-rounder will be joining the team in Pune. The statement from the BCCI read:

"The Men’s Selection Committee on Sunday added Mr Washington Sundar to India’s squad for the remainder of the IDFC First Bank Test series against New Zealand. Mr Washington Sundar will link up with the squad in Pune ahead of the second Test."

India’s updated squad for the second and third Test against New Zealand

Here's India’s updated squad for the second and third Test against New Zealand

Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar

India faces 8-wicket loss in first Test against New Zealand

India National Cricket Team didn't have a great outing in the first Test against the New Zealand National Cricket Team. They faced a thrashing loss in the first game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and went 1-0 down in the three-match Test series.

India had a horrible outing with the bat in the first innings as they got all out for just 46 runs. After that, the New Zealand National Cricket Team came up with a solid effort with the bat and posted a mammoth total of 402 runs on the board, taking a huge lead of 356 runs in the first innings.

In the second innings, India came up with a solid effort with the bat. They piled up a massive total of 462 runs and took a lead of 106 runs, which wasn't enough. New Zealand National Cricket Team chased the target with ease and bagged important World Test Championship points.