KL Rahul Misses Out As India Announce Squad For New Zealand Tests

India have recalled Prithvi Shaw to their Test squad as they announced the team for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. With Rohit Sharma out of action due to the calf injury he suffered in the fifth T20I in Sunday, Prithvi Shaw has made it to the Test team for the first time since the tour of Australia in 2018-19.

He has not played a single Test since his debut series against West Indies. He was a part of the team for the Australia tour but suffered an injury before the start of the series. The youngster then missed the Test series against West Indies, South Africa and Bangladesh last year due to the suspension imposed on him for a doping violation.

But while Shaw has returned to the team, there was no spot for KL Rahul who has been in top form in limited-overs cricket. Speculations were rife that Rahul would earn his place back for the upcoming series due to his display in white-ball cricket but the selectors have decided otherwise.

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Mayank Agarwal is the opener in the team while Shubman Gill has also retained his spot in the team. Shaw and Agarwal look set to open the innings while Gill is likely to be the backup opener. India have also included pacer Ishant Sharma, who had suffered an ankle injury during a Ranji Trophy fixture against Vidarbha last month.

The speedster spent time at the NCA rehabilitating and has now been picked – his availability subject to fitness clearance. Jasprit Bumrah has also returned to the squad after missing the home series against South Africa and Bangladesh. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been given the responsibility of the spin department while there is no place for Kuldeep Yadav.

The two-match Test series will start on February 21. India have won all of their seven Tests in the World Test Championship so far and will be looking to continue that winning run against the Black Caps.

India Test squad:

Virat Kohli (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma (subject to fitness clearance).