New Zealand have named a strong squad for their upcoming World Test Championship series against India, with Tom Latham captaining the side across the two-match series. The first Test begins in Wellington on 19 November.
The Black Caps have included Tom Blundell (quadricep), Devon Conway (concussion) and Rachin Ravindra (shoulder) in their 14-player group, even though all three are dealing with injury concerns.
A Renewed Rivalry
The two fixtures mark the first time the nations have met at Test level since New Zealand scored an upset 3-0 triumph over India in the sub-continent in 2024. Both sides remain in the race for next year’s World Test Championship Final at The Oval.
New Zealand currently sit second in the World Test Championship standings, behind only first-placed South Africa. India are fourth, with reigning runners-up Australia ahead of them in third.
Squad Selection
The Black Caps’ squad closely resembles the group that toured England in the middle of the year. Jacob Duffy returns to the playing group, while Ben Sears (ankle), Zak Foulkes (hip) and Will O’Rourke (managed) are the notable absentees.
The full squad is: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner and Will Young.
Walter Eyes Home Success
New Zealand coach Rob Walter knows how much these matches matter as the Black Caps aim to reach the World Test Championship Final for the first time since they claimed the inaugural mace in 2021.
“This series marks the start of an exciting summer of Test cricket for the Black Caps,” Walter said. “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.
“We’ve experienced great crowds so far during the white-ball series and we’re really looking forward to having that support during the Tests. There are 10 Tests scheduled between now and March, so there’s no shortage of action for red-ball fans.
“Valuable (World Test) Championship points are on the line of course, but our focus remains on playing our best cricket against a high-quality team like India.”
Schedule
The second Test is scheduled for 27 November to 2 December in Christchurch.