Bumrah back in India’s Test plans

The BCCI has named Jasprit Bumrah in India’s squad for the two-Test series in New Zealand, bringing the fast bowler back into the red-ball group after he missed the previous series against Sri Lanka. Bumrah had initially been selected for that tour before being withdrawn because of injury.

Rishabh Pant has also been selected, subject to fitness. Pant missed India A’s tour of New Zealand after picking up an injury during the domestic Irani Trophy. Fast bowlers Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj are included, while Kuldeep Yadav keeps his place and left-arm spinner Manav Suthar misses out.

Two Tests scheduled for November

India’s first Test is scheduled to begin in Wellington on November 19, four days after the five-match ODI series concludes. The second Test is due to start in Christchurch on November 27. The series will be significant to India’s pursuit of a place in the World Test Championship final.

Shubman Gill will captain the Test side, with KL Rahul named vice-captain. The squad announced by the BCCI is:

• Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (subject to fitness), Dhruv Jurel
• Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan
• Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj

Iyer to lead in final two ODIs

India have also named separate squads for the five-match ODI series. Gill is captain for the first three matches, with Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. Iyer will captain the team for the fourth and fifth ODIs as Gill shifts focus to the Test series. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are included in both ODI groups.

Test fixtures: First Test, Wellington, November 19; second Test, Christchurch, November 27.