KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant headline the 15-member India A squad for the three-match unofficial Test series against New Zealand A, starting on October 24. Dhruv Jurel has been named as the captain of the unit while Pant's inclusion will be dependent on his fitness.

The squad includes as many as 11 players with Test experience, with senior team vice-captain Rahul, Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal among the prominent names. Washington Sundar, Jurel, Sai Sudharsan and Manav Suthar, all of whom are in contention for India's senior team positions, have also been named.

KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Washington face scheduling challenge

The BCCI has failed to clarify how many matches Rahul, Jaiswal and Washington will play during the India A tour. All three are also part of India's ODI plans for the New Zealand series, creating a possible scheduling conflict.

The first unofficial Test match will take place in Lincoln from October 24 to 28, followed by the second match in Christchurch from October 31 to November 3. The third and final match will take place again in Lincoln from November 7 to 10.

India's three-match ODI series against New Zealand kicks off on November 4, with the second and third matches due to be played on November 7 and 10. As a result, Rahul, Jaiswal and Washington are unlikely to be available for all three matches of India A, if required to play against the senior squad.

Pant's selection is also dependent on his fitness. The wicketkeeper-batsman is expected to feature in India's plans for the two-Test series against New Zealand in the World Test Championship, while Jurel is expected to be his understudy.

Sudharsan is another player expected to be a potential candidate for the senior Test squad, while Suthar is one of India's spin options. India's A squad also includes Test caps for the pacers: Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj and Mukesh Kumar.

Akash Deep is expected to be a part of India's Test plans, and the A series is an important opportunity for him to gain match practice ahead of India's upcoming assignments. Mukesh Kumar, on the other hand, has returned to the national reckoning after an impressive performance in the Irani Cup final.

Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has also earned a place in the squad, bringing the total number of players with international caps to 12.

The three uncapped players are domestic batting prospects Smaran Ravichandran and Yash Rathod, and left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary.

India A squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (C) (WK), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar.