India’s prominent Test openers, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, are set to participate in a preparatory series of red-ball matches for India A in New Zealand. These games will serve as a warm-up for the two-Test series scheduled in New Zealand. The series begins on 26th October in Lincoln.
The India A squad, captained by Dhruv Jurel, includes Rishabh Pant. However, Pant’s involvement depends on his fitness owing to an unspecified injury. Pant recently led his team, Rest of India, to success against Jammu & Kashmir in the Irani Cup, although he has opted out of the upcoming Ranji Trophy opener. The Delhi & Districts Cricket Association confirmed Pant’s decision earlier this week.
Several regular faces from India’s team, such as KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, reappear in the lineup for the Ranji Trophy starting on 11th October. Sundar was also withdrawn from the T20I series against the West Indies so he could focus on longer-format cricket.
Notably, Devdutt Padikkal, who played at number three in the recent Tests against Sri Lanka, is included in the squad. B Sai Sudharsan, recovering from a toe injury, returns following his participation in India A’s series against Australia A in Puducherry.
Ravichandran Smaran, who shined in the Irani Cup for Rest of India, receives his first India A call-up. Smaran, also named Karnataka’s captain for the Ranji Trophy while Padikkal is absent, scored 68 and 135 runs in his team’s notable 167-run triumph.
Seamers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, who also contributed significantly in the same match, have been included in the tour group. After recovering from a seven-month stint on the sidelines, Akash claimed six wickets, while Mukesh, having last played Tests in 2024, collected a six-wicket haul in the match’s second innings.
Additional pace options come in the form of Anshul Kamboj and Mukesh Choudhary, the latter bolstered by recent success in the Irani Cup with five wickets. Auqib Nabi, remarkable with 60 wickets during the 2025-26 Ranji season, also joins the squad. Nabi made his ODI debut in the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati last week.
The spin-bowling department relies on Washington Sundar alongside Manav Suthar. Suthar’s impressive stint with Warwickshire in the county circuit saw him picking up 14 wickets in four matches.
Vidarbha’s Yash Rathod provides batting depth as a back-up, having demonstrated his capability with a crucial 80 against Australia A in the second unofficial Test recently.
The touring party is scheduled to leave for New Zealand on October 16, playing their first match on October 26. The second and third matches will be held at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch and back in Lincoln, respectively, concluding on November 10.
India’s Test series against New Zealand, part of the World Test Championship cycle, commences on November 19, wrapping up on December 1 in Wellington and Christchurch. The tour marks India’s first Test visit to New Zealand since early 2020.
India A Squad for New Zealand Tour: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Rishabh Pant (wk)*, Dhruv Jurel (capt, wk), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar.
