India are set to take on New Zealand in a three-Test series, starting from October 16 in Bengaluru. If India beat the Kiwis 3-0, the sub-continent team will qualify for the final of the World Test Championship. The second game is in Pune while Mumbai will host the third and final contest.
Ahead of the series, India have been hit by an injury concern. Shubman Gill is down with a stiff neck and is likely to miss the game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The right-handed batter scored a hundred in the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai.
It was his third ton of the year after scores of 104 and 110 against the visiting England. The knocks cemented his place at the number three slot.
Gill’s absence could impact the Rohit Sharma-led team, but the squad have a good back-up option available in the form of Sarfaraz Khan, who has been waiting for a chance since amassing three half-centuries in five innings in his debut Test series against England.
KL Rahul was preferred over Sarfaraz in the two Tests against Bangladesh. Sarfaraz recently hit 222 runs for Mumbai in the Irani Cup against the Rest of India.
India haven’t decided on fielding an extra spinner or a pacer against New Zealand. Skipper Rohit Sharma will take a call depending on the conditions in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
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