Indian vs New Zealand Sarfaraz Khan: India has included Sarfaraz Khan in their playing XI for the first Test of the three-match series against New Zealand, marking his return to the Test squad. Sarfaraz replaces Shubman Gill, who is dealing with neck stiffness, in a crucial adjustment to the batting lineup. Another notable change is left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who replaces seamer Akash Deep, adding a spin option to India’s attack on what could be a spin-friendly track in Bengaluru. These are the only two changes India has made from the side that played in the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh.
India enters the series on the back of a dominant 2-0 whitewash over Bangladesh, a performance that boosted their chances of securing a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the third consecutive time. The three-match series against New Zealand will begin in Bengaluru, followed by Tests in Pune and Mumbai, and India will aim for another series win to strengthen their WTC campaign.
The absence of Gill, who has been a key figure in India’s batting order, comes as a setback. He recently showcased stellar form, scoring his third Test century of the year in the second Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. His scores of 104 and 110 earlier this year against England solidified his place at No. 3 in India’s batting lineup, making his current injury untimely. Despite this, the Indian team has a strong replacement in Sarfaraz Khan, whose domestic form has been exceptional.
Sarfaraz’s return to the squad offers India depth and confidence. Although he missed out on a spot against Bangladesh with the return of KL Rahul, Sarfaraz’s performance in domestic cricket, including a record-breaking knock of 222 in the Irani Cup against the rest of India, has kept him in contention. The Mumbai batter made a strong impression during his international debut against England, hitting three fifties in five innings, and now gets another chance to solidify his place.
For India, the inclusion of Sarfaraz and Kuldeep provides a blend of stability and variation, as they look to overpower New Zealand in their bid to reach the WTC final. As the series kicks off in Bengaluru, all eyes will be on how Sarfaraz seizes his opportunity and how the Indian team adjusts to Gill’s absence in this crucial contest.