India tour of New Zealand: Exposure for Test regulars to highlight selection meeting
toi
newspoint|05-10-2026
NEW DELHI: The India men's senior selection committee is likely to meet in the next 48 hours to pick the four squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. The meeting, which interim chief selector Pragyan Ojha is set to chair, was postponed from Monday because of Prasidh Krishna's pending fitness reports. The four selectors will soon get into a huddle to pick the T20I, ODI, Test and India A squads for the tour, which begins with the shortest format on October 22.
TimesofIndia.com has learnt that since the A series, starting from October 24, overlaps with the T20Is and ODIs, the selectors are delicately handling the availability and exposure situation. While they don't want to dilute the two squads, providing red-ball exposure for Test regulars will be the top priority when they meet.
Some India A bowlers might also stay back to assist the Test team with preparations. Spinners Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Vipraj Nigam and Shivang Kumar accompanied the Test team in Sri Lanka, and this time around, fast bowlers could well be asked to stay back in New Zealand after their A assignment.
After his heroics in the Irani Cup fixture against Jammu & Kashmir, Mukesh Kumar is back on the selectors' radar and is likely to be drafted into the A squad for the three matches. Akash Deep will also be asked to play some games to be absolutely ready for the two Tests. The selectors are also deliberating on Jasprit Bumrah 's readiness. As TimesofIndia.com first reported, the management wants the fast bowler to increase his workload before joining the squad for the Wellington Test.
The Ojha-led panel will be in a tight spot addressing the Bumrah situation, as asking the bowler to play one of the A fixtures could dilute their ODI attack. The option of a Ranji Trophy fixture was also on the table, but some decision-makers are uncomfortable with making him toil in the domestic circuit.
Ishan back in red-ball discussionsIt is understood that selectors have initiated plans to keep Ishan Kishan ready for the longest format. While they wanted him to feature in the A series, the overlapping of ODIs and T20Is could force them to look towards Dhruv Jurel and Kumar Kushagra. Rishabh Pant, who is playing only Tests now, is expected to complete his preparations by playing at least one A game.
The left-hander will not be the only Test regular to do so, as KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are all expected to feature in at least one fixture. Since KL will be part of the ODI squad, there is a strong possibility of him playing the first fixture from October 24 before joining the ODI squad in Auckland.
How many spinners?Saransh Jain is unlikely to be considered with Washington Sundar back to full fitness, but the big question remains: how many spinners will the team carry? Ravindra Jadeja is expected to retain his spot in the playing XI, leaving the thinktank with the options of Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav. It is unlikely that all four will board the flight, and the axe could fall on Kuldeep, considering the team's batting focus.
More than a lot of spin-bowling all-rounders, it will make more sense to have someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy in the set-up, and there is a strong possibility of the management swaying his way.
Too many quicks!
Indian selectors will have a happy headache regarding the fast-bowling combination for the Tests. If all are fit and available, the onus will be on the selectors to choose the best-suited options from Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Akash Deep and Auqib Nabi. The scales, for now, heavily favour the first four, but an injury could open the door for either Nabi or Mukesh Kumar.
ODI depthThe ODI depth will also be tested, as the Test regulars are likely to leave the squad for at least one fixture, if not both. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy could all be unavailable, which will force the selectors to reward consistent performers in the domestic and A circuits.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Kushagra and Naman Dhir will remain in the mix. Also watch out for Mayank Yadav, as he has been making a strong case for himself with his improved workload and ability to maintain his pace in long spells.
TimesofIndia.com has learnt that since the A series, starting from October 24, overlaps with the T20Is and ODIs, the selectors are delicately handling the availability and exposure situation. While they don't want to dilute the two squads, providing red-ball exposure for Test regulars will be the top priority when they meet.
Some India A bowlers might also stay back to assist the Test team with preparations. Spinners Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Vipraj Nigam and Shivang Kumar accompanied the Test team in Sri Lanka, and this time around, fast bowlers could well be asked to stay back in New Zealand after their A assignment.
After his heroics in the Irani Cup fixture against Jammu & Kashmir, Mukesh Kumar is back on the selectors' radar and is likely to be drafted into the A squad for the three matches. Akash Deep will also be asked to play some games to be absolutely ready for the two Tests. The selectors are also deliberating on Jasprit Bumrah 's readiness. As TimesofIndia.com first reported, the management wants the fast bowler to increase his workload before joining the squad for the Wellington Test.
The Ojha-led panel will be in a tight spot addressing the Bumrah situation, as asking the bowler to play one of the A fixtures could dilute their ODI attack. The option of a Ranji Trophy fixture was also on the table, but some decision-makers are uncomfortable with making him toil in the domestic circuit.
Ishan back in red-ball discussionsIt is understood that selectors have initiated plans to keep Ishan Kishan ready for the longest format. While they wanted him to feature in the A series, the overlapping of ODIs and T20Is could force them to look towards Dhruv Jurel and Kumar Kushagra. Rishabh Pant, who is playing only Tests now, is expected to complete his preparations by playing at least one A game.
The left-hander will not be the only Test regular to do so, as KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are all expected to feature in at least one fixture. Since KL will be part of the ODI squad, there is a strong possibility of him playing the first fixture from October 24 before joining the ODI squad in Auckland.
How many spinners?Saransh Jain is unlikely to be considered with Washington Sundar back to full fitness, but the big question remains: how many spinners will the team carry? Ravindra Jadeja is expected to retain his spot in the playing XI, leaving the thinktank with the options of Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav. It is unlikely that all four will board the flight, and the axe could fall on Kuldeep, considering the team's batting focus.
More than a lot of spin-bowling all-rounders, it will make more sense to have someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy in the set-up, and there is a strong possibility of the management swaying his way.
Too many quicks!
Indian selectors will have a happy headache regarding the fast-bowling combination for the Tests. If all are fit and available, the onus will be on the selectors to choose the best-suited options from Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Akash Deep and Auqib Nabi. The scales, for now, heavily favour the first four, but an injury could open the door for either Nabi or Mukesh Kumar.
ODI depthThe ODI depth will also be tested, as the Test regulars are likely to leave the squad for at least one fixture, if not both. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy could all be unavailable, which will force the selectors to reward consistent performers in the domestic and A circuits.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Kushagra and Naman Dhir will remain in the mix. Also watch out for Mayank Yadav, as he has been making a strong case for himself with his improved workload and ability to maintain his pace in long spells.
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