India Tour of New Zealand: Team India is set to tour New Zealand following the West Indies series. Indian selectors will soon announce the squad for this tour; however, the task will be far from easy, as four separate teams need to be selected simultaneously.
This is because the tour includes T20, ODI, and Test series. Additionally, the India A team will also be touring, requiring the selectors to pick four distinct squads.
Four Indian squads to be selected simultaneously
The tour will kick off with T20 matches on October 22. According to reports, the selection meeting was originally scheduled for October 5 but had to be postponed pending the fitness report of fast bowler Prasidh Krishna.
Meanwhile, the biggest challenge facing the selectors is the clash of schedules. The India A series in New Zealand begins on October 24, which will overlap with the T20I and ODI series.
Key factors to be considered during selection
- The selectors' top priority is to provide key Test team players with ample red-ball practice in New Zealand conditions.
- Rishabh Pant, who now plays only Test cricket, will play at least one India A match to fine-tune his preparations.
- KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, and Sai Sudharsan will also participate in at least one India A match.
- After playing the first India A match starting on October 24, KL Rahul will join the ODI squad in Auckland.
Focus on Jasprit Bumrah's workload
According to reports, the team management wants Bumrah to gradually increase his workload ahead of the Wellington Test. However, playing him in the India A match could weaken the ODI squad, and some officials are opposed to subjecting him to the rigors of the Ranji Trophy. Consequently, he will not be part of the India A team.
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