India’s Playing XI Against New Zealand Raises Eyebrows at Bengaluru Test

In an unexpected move, India’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma made significant changes to the team’s lineup for the first Test against New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The toss, held at 8:45 AM to accommodate an early start on the second day, saw Sharma opting to bat first, despite overcast conditions, after the first day’s play was washed out due to rain.

The Indian team has made two notable changes from the squad that recently secured a 2-0 victory against Bangladesh in a closely contested Test series. Shubman Gill, who typically plays as India’s No.3, was omitted due to neck stiffness, according to a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). While Gill was present with the squad, reports indicate he had been experiencing discomfort for several days.

The second change involved the inclusion of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who replaced the pacer Akash Deep. This decision to field three specialist spinners against the expectation of favoring pace in damp conditions was explained by Sharma, stating, “The pitch has been under covers for a couple of days and we do understand it will be sticky to start with. Keeping that in mind, we wanted to put runs on the board.”

The decision comes after India’s dominant win over Bangladesh, despite challenging weather conditions. Rohit Sharma, reflecting on the curtailed match time due to rain, noted, “You lose the entire day and have four days to play. A lot can happen over the four days as well and you want to get the result as much as possible.”

The playing XI for the Test includes Rohit Sharma as captain, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. New Zealand’s lineup includes captain Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell as wicketkeeper, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, and William O’Rourke.

The weather has been a significant factor, with the opening day abandoned without play due to continuous rain. The India Meteorological Department had issued an orange alert for Bengaluru, indicating the potential for further disruptions in the match. The Karnataka State Cricket Association is celebrating its golden jubilee, adding another layer of importance to this Test match being the 25th played at this historic venue.