![Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja included Test squad for NZ Tests [PC- AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792403532638_pujaranamedindia'splayingxivsnewzealandfor1sttestnitishkumarredd.jpg?type=hq)
Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja included Test squad for NZ Tests [PC- AFP]
India's next assignment is against New Zealand, as the Men in Blue will feature in a multi-format series starting with the white-ball series. The biggest challenge of the season will begin with the IND vs NZ 1st Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington.
The former Indian great, Cheteshwar Pujara, has picked India’s starting 11 for the first Test match vs New Zealand, nearly a month before the start of the red-ball series.
Cheteshwar Pujara picks India's Playing XI for 1st Test, Nitish Kumar Reddy named
Just like everyone, Cheteshwar Pujara named KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the two openers. Meanwhile, the former number 3 batter picked Devdutt Padikkal at one-down, ahead of Sai Sudharsan. DDP had a brilliant tour of Sri Lanka, slamming 328 runs in three innings.
Captain Shubman Gill and his former deputy Rishabh Pant were again the obvious choices for India’s starting 11. Meanwhile, according to Pujara, India should continue with the two-keeper theory and play Dhruv Jurel at number six.
Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy are selected in Pujara’s playing XI for the Wellington Test as the two all-rounders. The latter all-rounder has substandard numbers in Test cricket, but will play a vital role, especially in the tough conditions like New Zealand's.
Lastly, the former cricketer ended the list by naming three out-and-out seamers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Cheteshwar Pujara's Playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand (via Cricinfo)
KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Cheteshwar Pujara prefers hit-the-deck bowlers ahead of Akash Deep, Kamboj
For a challenging tour Down Under, the national selectors have a slim batting line-up, but have named three spin options and five fast bowlers for the two Test matches.
Among the 15-member Indian Test squad, Cheteshwar Pujara suggests that Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav be benched.
Additionally, he also thinks that pacers Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj, who would be ample assistance in the windy conditions of New Zealand, should not play in the first IND vs NZ Test.
That said, Pujara said bowlers like Siraj and Krishna, who rely more on hit-the-deck bowling, should be in India’s starting 11.
Nevertheless, the Wellington Test between India and New Zealand will begin on November 19, before the caravan moves to Christchurch on November 27 for the second Test.
