New Zealand have announced a 14-member squad for their upcoming two-match Test series against India, with captain Tom Latham set to lead a near full-strength
side.
The squad, announced on Wednesday, November 11, features several experienced campaigners, including Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner.
NZ vs IND: Trio named despite Fitness Doubts
Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway and Tom Blundell have all been included despite fitness concerns, as the Black Caps prepare for an important ICC World Test Championship (WTC) assignment.
The inclusion of Ravindra, Conway and Blundell will be particularly significant for the hosts. Ravindra is recovering from a shoulder injury, while Conway is working his way back after suffering a concussion during a training session. Blundell, meanwhile, has been managing a quadriceps injury. All three are targeting fitness ahead of the opening Test in Wellington.
New Zealand have left out Ben Sears, Zak Foulkes and Will O'Rourke, who are unavailable due to injuries and their respective recovery programmes.
Head coach Rob Walter expressed confidence in the squad's ability to build on their recent success in Test cricket, having secured a memorable 2-1 series victory against England earlier this year.
"The squad is largely consistent with the team that competed in England earlier this year, so it'll be great to be back together to try and recreate some of that success on home soil," Walter said.
New Zealand vs India Test Series Schedule
The opening Test will begin on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, followed by the second match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.
The Black Caps lost the T20I series against India, while the latest washout in the ODI series ensures that they won't win the 50-over assignment outright as well.
The series carries significant importance in the WTC standings. New Zealand are currently second, while India occupy fourth place, making the two matches extremely important for their WTC 2027 final hopes.
New Zealand Squad
Tom Latham (Captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young.
