Ajinkya Rahane named captain for 1st Test vs New Zealand, Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma rested

BCCI on Friday announced the India Test squad for the home series against New Zealand. Virat Kohli will join the team for the second Test match in Mumbai, and in his absence, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side in the first Test in Kanpur. Cheteshwar Pujara has been named as Rahane's deputy in the first Test match. The two-match Test series against the Kane Williamson-led side will begin on November 25, after the conclusion of the T20I series.

Rohit Sharma, who was appointed as India's new T20I captain, has been rested for the Test series along with Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami. KS Bharat and Wriddhiman Saha have been named as the two wicketkeepers in the India squad. Notably, Hanuma Vihari, who had been a regular name in the Test format for the last three-four years was excluded from the squad.

India squad for New Zealand Test series: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Cheteshwar Pujara (VC), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Virat Kohli will join the squad for the 2nd Test and will lead the team.