The BCCI announced the India Cricket Team squad for the upcoming IND vs NZ Test series. And like the recently concluded IND vs BAN Tests, Gautam Gambhir has opted for a rather aggressive tactic against the Kiwis. Team India is heading into the 3-match Test series without any opener as a backup.
Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are now the designated openers for India in Test cricket. The same tactic was used by India in the recently concluded India vs Bangladesh Test series. Though New Zealand is going through poor form, India’s over-aggressive plan can easily backfire on them.
No opener backup for India
India currently has only 2 openers in their ranks. While people might argue that Shubman Gill is also an opener, but the 25-year-old is now used as Number 3 in Test cricket. Now any injury scare risk can become a big problem for India since India has to play 3 Test matches.
In the meantime, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Eashwaran have been patiently waiting in the breaches, eyeing a chance to make it to the squad. Discussions continue about the inclusion of either or both for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, that won’t be the case for the IND vs NZ Tests.
Should there be an injury or scares, then Shubman Gill can move up and take the opener spot. In such a scenario, a player will be accommodated into the middle order.
India’s squad for the three Tests 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
Travelling Reserves: Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mayank Yadav and Prasidh Krishna
