KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, India’s premier Test opening duo, will look to build crucial match practice ahead of the highly anticipated two-match series in New Zealand by spearheading the India A squad for three red-ball fixtures on the shadow tour starting October 26.
The squad, led by wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, also features star wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, whose inclusion is subject to fitness. Pant recently led Rest of India to a victory over Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir in the Irani Cup, but has since made himself unavailable for the Ranji Trophy opener due to an injury, the exact nature of which remains undisclosed.
The tour serves as a vital stepping stone for India’s top players ahead of their first Test tour to New Zealand since February-March 2020. The senior Tests, part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, are scheduled to be played in Wellington and Christchurch from November 19 to December 1. The India A team is set to depart on October 16, with matches lined up in Lincoln and Christchurch, concluding on November 10.
Key Players and Performers
The squad boasts a formidable mix of experienced internationals and emerging talents. Devdutt Padikkal, who recently stepped in as India’s Test No. 3 during their tour of Sri Lanka, is named alongside B. Sai Sudharsan, who returns to action following a recovery from a toe injury. Vidarbha’s Yash Rathod is named as the backup batter after impressing with a solid 80 against Australia A in the recently concluded unofficial Test series.
The spin department will be anchored by Washington Sundar, who was pulled out of the T20I series against the West Indies specifically to gain valuable red-ball match time, and Manav Suthar, India’s standout bowler during the Test series win in Sri Lanka. Suthar recently continued his strong form, picking up 14 wickets in four matches for Warwickshire in county cricket.
The pace bowling attack is strengthened by several standout performers from the recent Irani Cup. Ravichandran Smaran has earned his maiden India A call-up after a stellar showing for Rest of India, striking 68 and 135 in their 167-run victory, and has been named Karnataka captain for the upcoming Ranji season in Padikkal’s absence. Akash Deep returns to competitive cricket after a seven-month injury layoff, having taken six wickets in the Irani Cup match. Mukesh Kumar, who played his most recent Test in 2024, also features after claiming a six-wicket haul in the second innings to seal the win for Rest of India.
The pace attack is further bolstered by Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, who was also fresh off a five-wicket haul in the Irani Cup, and Auqib Nabi. Nabi, the highest wicket-taker across India during the 2025-26 Ranji season with 60 wickets, recently made his ODI debut during the series against the West Indies.
India A Squad for Tour of New Zealand
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Ravichandran Smaran
- Rishabh Pant (wk)*
- Dhruv Jurel (capt, wk)
- Washington Sundar
- Auqib Nabi
- Akash Deep
- Anshul Kamboj
- Manav Suthar
- Mukesh Choudhary
- Sai Sudharsan
- Yash Rathod
- Mukesh Kumar
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