IND v NZ: Washington Sundar added to India squad for second and third Tests

India vs New Zealand: India added Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar to their squad for the second and third Tests against New Zealand in Pune and Mumbai. Rishabh Pant was retained in the squad despite his knee niggle in Bengaluru.

In Short

• India announced a 16-member squad for the 2nd and 3rd Tests against New Zealand
• Washington Sundar was added as an extra spin-bowling all-rounder option
• India lost the first Test by 8 wickets on Sunday in Bengaluru

India announced their squad for the second and third Tests against New Zealand with Washington Sundar's addition being the only change. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder will link up with the squad in Pune, which will host the second Test from October 24, the BCCI said in a statement on Sunday, October 20.

The Indian cricket board did not mention why Washington Sundar was added as an extra all-round option to the squad which already has the likes of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. India will now head to Pune and Mumbai Tests with a 16-member squad.

India lost the Test series opener in Bengaluru by 8 wickets.

INDIA SQUAD FOR SECOND AND THIRD TESTS

Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar.

Washington Sundar has begun the Ranji Trophy season on a high for Tamil Nadu, hitting 152 at No. 3 against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Sundar also picked two wickets on Sunday against Delhi, flaunting his all-round skills with the red ball.

Sundar will complete his Ranji Trophy duty for Tamil Nadu on Monday and head to Pune to join the Indian team. The all-rounder last played a Test match for India in Ahmedabad in March 2021. After making a sensational debut in the famous Gabba Test of 2021, Sundar went on to play three more Tests -- at home against England in 2021.

However, a series of injuries kept him away from the Test scheme of things. Sundar, who has also played 22 ODIs and 52 T20Is, returned to ODIs for the first since last year during the tour of Sri Lanka in August. Sundar played all three T20Is for India against Bangladesh earlier in October, picking three wickets in as many matches.

BUMRAH, PANT REMAIN IN SQUAD

Meanwhile, India retained Jasprit Bumrah in the squad despite concerns over his workload ahead of the all-important tour of Australia next month. KL Rahul also retained his place in the squad despite twin failures in the Bengaluru Test.

Shubman Gill, who missed the first Test in Bengaluru due to a neck niggle, is expected to regain his place in the XI in Pune. On the other hand, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who suffered a knee injury scare in Bengaluru, is part of the squad.

Captain Rohit Sharma said Rishabh Pant not keeping wickets in the Bengaluru Test after the blow to his knee was a precautionary move, adding that they want to ensure the wicketkeeper returns to peak fitness before playing him again. It remains to be seen if Pant will be played in Pune. Dhruv Jurel kept wickets in Pant's absence in the Bengaluru Test, but the Delhi Capitals captain hit a valiant 99 in the second innings while battling pain.