KL Rahul ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand due to a strain on his left thigh. He will now undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. And Suryakumar Yadav has been included in the squad in his place, two days before the start of the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur.
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Rahul’s Absence in the Team
In KL Rahul absence – Rohit Sharma rested for the series – Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal will be the likely opening pair for India. Along with Rohit, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, as well as regular Test captain Virat Kohli, have been rested. However, Kohli will return to lead the team for the second Test in Mumbai.
The 31-year-old middle-order batsman Suryakumar was also late in the red-ball squad that toured England earlier this year. But he is yet to make his debut in the format.
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Suryakumar Becomes Regular in India’s T20I Squad in KL Rahul Absence
Suryakumar, who has become a regular in India’s T20I squad. Has been a key player for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. In the most recent first-class season, 2019-20, Suryakumar scored 508 runs in ten innings at an average of 56.44 and a strike rate of 95.13 with two centuries and two fifties. He has played in 71 Ranji tournaments out of 77 first-class matches.
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Indian Squad for New Zealand Test Series: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (Vice-Captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohd Siraj, Famous Krishna; Virat Kohli will be include in the squad for the second test.
