5 Indian Players Who Might Warm The Bench In New Zealand Test Series

India’s tour of New Zealand is coming to a close as days pass by. The two teams will play a two-match Test series starting from February 21st, apart from gaining points for the ICC Test Championship, the Indian players would like to end this mini-battle on a winning note.

While the Men in Blue whitewashed the Kiwis 5-0 in the T20I series, the hosts came back strongly and blanked India 0-3 in the ODI series. Now, it is all to play for as the Test series edges closer, and it remains to be seen which team will have the last laugh.

Meanwhile, preparations for the Test series are underway as both teams recently played a three-day warm-up match. While the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will be the first names on the team sheet.

Besides, some players will most likely sit out the games against New Zealand.

Here, is a list of five Indian players who are most likely to warm-up the bench in upcoming New Zealand Test series:

1) Shubman Gill

After Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the Test series owing to his calf injury, captain Virat Kohli chose to include India U19 star Shubman Gill in his stead. He was brought up to the senior squad to give tough competition to Prithvi Shaw, but they both have underwhelmed so far.

Mayank Agarwal will open the innings for India, but questions remain regarding his partner. While both Shaw and Gill are talented players, they lack consistency given their international careers have just begun.

Given that Shaw fared better than Gill in the practice match versus New Zealand XI, he might just get the nod ahead of his former India U19 teammate.

Hence, the latter will have to be content with a place on the bench.

2) Rishabh Pant

How quickly things change in cricket, after the World Cup, Pant was promoted to India’s first choice-wicketkeeper, while in the current scheme of things, he just can’t get himself any game time at all.

The 22-year-old has had a tour to forget so far, and in the upcoming Test series, the presence of Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps means that Pant will have to warm the bench yet again.

However, he did try to give Virat Kohli a late selection headache with his cameo of 70 runs in the warm-up match versus New Zealand XI.

All things considered, Kohli will opt for the experience of Saha, while Pant will have to do more to turn his fortunes around. He will be one of those Indian players, who will come in only if someone from the playing XI gets injured.

3) Navdeep Saini

On the back of some impressive performances in limited-overs formats, Saini was included by the selectors in the Test squad as well. However, in the difficult conditions of New Zealand, Kohli is likely to go for the experience of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.

Having already lost the ODI series, with no quarter being given or asked, India will try to win against New Zealand at all cost. Apart from ICC Test Championship points, India will be hoping to end this tour on a winning note.

Therefore, the 27-year-old may well have to make do with a place on the bench for this series and wait for his debut Test cap.

4) Umesh Yadav

For the past few series, Umesh Yadav has been a potent weapon for Team India in domestic conditions. However, he is not that dangerous in away matches, which is why Kohli will most likely name Yadav on the bench.

While there is a lot of healthy competition for places within the Indian players, the pace bowling department looks well stocked and given how crucial the upcoming Test series versus New Zealand will be, Yadav’s chances of starting the match look bleak.

The 32-year-old hasn’t played on New Zealand soil before, and in the four matches against the Kiwis, he has just seven wickets in four games, which is not an impressive tally by any means. So, Yadav will most likely warm the bench.

5) Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin was once considered an untouchable name amongst all the Indian players. In the past couple of years though, his career has been on the wane.

Moreover, New Zealand’s conditions favour the pace bowlers, which is why Virat Kohli will most likely name Ashwin on the bench.

The presence of Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari, who is not only a solid batsman but can put in a decent bowling shift as well, will further limit opportunities for Ashwin.

All things considered, the 33-year-old will have to be content with a place on the bench, while India will most likely start with three pacers, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, while Jadeja and Vihari will be ahead of Ashwin in the pecking order.