Led by wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, India A will play at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. The match will give the players valuable exposure to local conditions ahead of India’s World Test Championship (WTC) assignment, which begins on November 19 in Wellington.
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are among the prominent names in the squad. Other key players include Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Sai Sudharsan and pacers Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj and Mukesh Kumar.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will miss the match as he continues his recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Kumar Kushagra replaced Pant in the squad for the first two matches of the tour after Pant suffered a left-side strain while leading the Rest of India team in the Irani Cup.
A decision on Pant’s availability for the third match will be taken later. Captain Jurel is also available as a wicketkeeping option.
India senior team’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak highlighted the importance of the three unofficial Tests, saying the matches would benefit both established Test players and those waiting for opportunities.
Squads
India A: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Dhruv Jurel (captain and wicketkeeper), Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudarsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar.
New Zealand A: Rhys Mariu (captain), Matt Boyle, Max Chu, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Mitch Hay (wicketkeeper), Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat.
