Why Akash Deep Is Not In The Playing XI For India In 1st Test vs New Zealand
Photo : AP
There were a couple of surprises as India announced their lineup for the first Test against New Zealand at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Not a single over was bowled as persistent rain washed out the first day.
Rohit Sharma decided to bat first after winning the toss but a bigger surprise was on the cards as he revealed India’s playing XI. Akash Deep makes way for Kuldeep Yadav as India opted to field three specialist spinners.
The overcast condition generally tends to help the fast bowlers and it remains to be seen how it pans out for the home side. In the second change, Sarfaraz Khan replaced Shubman Gill who missed out due to a stiff neck.
Akash Deep was involved in both Test matches against Bangladesh but now has to sit out the first match against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma explained the reason for choosing this playing XI against New Zealand. “We are going to have a bat first. It has been under the covers and we do understand that it could be slightly sticky early on but the nature of the pitch is such that you would want to put runs on the board first. You want to get the result as much as we want. We assess where we are decide what needs to be done as a team. We have played well in the last few Test matches. Fresh series for us and we want to start well. From the last Test two changes, Gill misses out, Sarfaraz comes in. Kuldeep comes in for Akash.”
India playing XI
Rohit Sharma(captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand playing XI
Tom Latham(captain), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke
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