New Zealand name 14-player squad for home Tests against India
Tom Latham will captain the side in the two-match World Test Championship series, which starts in Wellington on Nov. 19.
New Zealand named a 14-player squad on Wednesday for their two-match home Test series against India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.
Tom Latham will captain the team in the series, which begins in Wellington on Nov. 19 and is part of the World Test Championship.
The squad includes Tom Blundell, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, who are dealing with a quadricep, concussion and shoulder issues, respectively.
Pacer Jacob Duffy returns to the playing group, while Ben Sears, Zak Foulkes and Will O'Rourke are missing because of ankle, hip and other fitness concerns, the ICC said.
The Tests will be the first meeting between the two sides since New Zealand beat India 3-0 in the sub-continent in 2024.
New Zealand sit second in the World Test Championship standings behind South Africa, while India are fourth, with Australia third.
Coach Rob Walter said the squad is largely the same as the one that played in England earlier this year.
"This series marks the start of an exciting summer of Test cricket for the Black Caps," Walter said.
Walter said there are 10 Tests scheduled between now and March, and the second Test will be played in Christchurch from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.
The World Test Championship final will be held at The Oval next year, and New Zealand are aiming to reach it for the first time since they won the inaugural title in 2021.