Hanuma Vihari is among the key omissions from India’s Test squad for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. Prithvi Shaw is another primary name that has not been included in the squad for the two-Test match series. Ajinkya Rahane will lead in the first Test and Virat Kohli will return as captain for the second.
The Test series was about giving opportunities to youngsters. While Shreyas Iyer has been named in the Test squad, Vihari has been ignored. The Indian middle-order batsman has played several innings of substance in his Test career. His most recent effort was batting a whole day alongside Ravichandran Ashwin to help India draw the Sydney Test against Australia earlier this year.
ICYMI: Here's India's squad for the 2⃣-match #INDvNZ Test series 🔽#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/gQcaKa1YWS
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 12, 2021
While he has been snubbed from the Indian Test team against New Zealand, he has been added to India A squad that will play against South Africa.
India will host New Zealand for three T20Is and two Tests, starting on November 17. The series will kick off with the three T20Is to be played in Jaipur (November 17), Ranchi (November 19) and Kolkata (November 21).
The first Test will be played in Kanpur (November 25-29) while Mumbai will host the second Test (December 3-7).
https://twitter.com/Coverdrive01/status/1459056606319022080?s=20
https://twitter.com/Ro45Sharvil/status/1459054927574044676?s=20
Everybody Saying That MSK Parsad Was Not Good Selector…….?
What About NowThese Selectors Not Picking Player Who Saved Team With Injury Cause..(Vihari)
Chahal, Iyer Dropped From T20 Squad And That Cost Us So Much
— Akram_Says_ (@akram_says_) November 12, 2021
Hanuma Vihari’s exclusion is shocking. Absolutely shocking.
— Manish K Pathak (@manishpathak187) November 12, 2021
The series will also be Rahul Dravid’s first assignment as Team India Coach and the start of the Rahul-Rohit Era in the T20Is. Dravid will work with Kohli in tandem in red-ball cricket.
India’s Test Squad For NZ Series
Ajinkya Rahane (Captain first Test), Virat Kohli (Rested for first Test, Captain for the second) KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Hanuma Vihari To Play For India A Vs South Africa
A BCCI official explained the reason behind Vihari’s selection in the India A side when questioned on his omission from the squad for New Zealand series.
“It is better to send him to South Africa. The Indian team will be playing in South Africa later this year. If he scores there then he will be picked for the Indian team against South Africa,” a source in the Indian board said.
Vihari last played a Test in Sydney where he made 23 off 161 balls despite a hamstring injury. He batted with the injury to save the Test for India.
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