New Zealand has finalized its squad for the two-Test series against India, which gets underway in Wellington on November 19. The selection sees the return of Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Tom Blundell. Ravindra had been sidelined during the white-ball leg of the tour after dislocating his right shoulder during a promotional shoot. Meanwhile, Conway returns following his recovery from a concussion sustained prior to the opening ODI, and Blundell is back after nursing a quadricep injury.
Jacob Duffy has been called into the side led by captain Tom Latham. The roster sees several changes from the group that secured a 2-1 series victory in England earlier this year. Ben Sears is out with an ankle injury, Zak Foulkes is unavailable due to a hip injury, and Will O’Rourke remains sidelined for a return-to-play programme. Additionally, Kane Williamson is absent following his retirement midway through the England series.
The New Zealand Test squad includes Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, and Will Young. The team’s preparations will also mark the start of BL Watling’s tenure as the newly appointed batting coach, set to begin on November 16.
Head coach Rob Walter expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming matches, noting that the series signals the beginning of an exciting summer of Test cricket for the Blackcaps. Walter stated that the squad maintains consistency with the team that performed in England, providing an opportunity to recreate past successes on home soil. He added that with ten Tests scheduled through March, the focus remains on accumulating valuable World Test Championship points while competing against a high-quality India side. New Zealand currently leads the World Test Championship standings, with a four-match series against Australia and a two-match series against Sri Lanka following the India Tests.
