Jasprit Bumrah's vice captaincy headlines India's Test squad against New Zealand

On Friday, October 11, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the fifteen-member team for the forthcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand. Notably, the opening game between India and New Zealand will take place at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17. The same team from India's last two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which they won 2-0, has been kept together by the selection committee. Speedster Jasprit Bumrah has been the Test team's vice-captain for a few years thanks to his outstanding exploits in the longest format.

Remarkably, Jasprit Bumrah surpassed his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin to take the top spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings once again. With 11 wickets from two matches at an average of 12.81, the speedster concluded as the series' joint-highest wicket-taker against Bangladesh. Following back surgery in August 2023, Bumrah rejoined the Indian squad and has been in incredible form in all forms ever since. Following his return, he has taken 42 wickets in eight Test matches at an incredible average of 14.69, with top figures of 6/45. With 10 five-wicket hauls to his credit, the 30-year-old has taken 170 wickets at an average of 20.18 from 38 Test matches thus far. Additionally, Bumrah has led India in test cricket once, in July 2022 at Edgbaston during the delayed fifth Test match against England.

INDIAN SQUAD FOR NEW ZEALAND TEST SERIES: 🇮🇳

Rohit (C), Bumrah (VC), Jaiswal, Gill, Kohli, Rahul, Sarfaraz, Pant (WK), Jurel (WK), Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, Kuldeep, Siraj, Akash Deep pic.twitter.com/mvgp6Hre89

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 11, 2024

To keep them match-ready for the Australia series, India may try to provide opportunities in the next series to players like Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav who did not play against Bangladesh. India and New Zealand will play the second and third Tests at Pune and Mumbai, respectively, following the first Test in Bengaluru.

Mohammed Shami misses out from the sqaud

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released the roster for the three-match Test series against New Zealand on Friday, October 11, although fast bowler Mohammed Shami remained out from the squad. Notably, Shami's ankle injury has kept him out of play since the ODI World Cup in 2023. 

Following surgery in February, the speedster has been receiving rehabilitation at Bengaluru's National Cricket Academy (NCA). Even a video of the fast bowler practicing in the nets at the NCA in July of last year was posted by him. Just over a month away comes the Australia series, and supporters are wondering if Shami will be able to prepare in time. The BCCI has not yet released an official comment about his development. The BCCI has chosen all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and fast bowlers Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna as traveling reserves for the New Zealand series in his absence.