IND vs NZ: Latham calls Kane Williamson's absence 'disappointing' for Bengaluru Test

New Zealand captain Tom Latham faces a daunting challenge as Kane Williamson is ruled out of the first Test against India. Latham must lead his team without their experienced batter against an in-form Indian side.

In Short

• Kane Williamson will not play a part in New Zealand's Bengaluru Test vs India
• Will Young will replace Williamson in the New Zealand squad.
• India will come into the series after a dominant Test whitewash over Bangladesh

New Zealand captain Tom Latham has confirmed that star batter Kane Williamson will not be available for the team’s first Test against India in Bengaluru, terming it a disappointing blow for the side. Latham, recently appointed as the Black Caps' Test captain following Tim Southee’s resignation after a disastrous series loss to Sri Lanka, announced that 31-year-old Will Young would replace Williamson in the squad for the crucial first Test.

Latham’s leadership debut comes at a challenging time for New Zealand, with their first assignment under his captaincy being a three-match Test series against an in-form Indian side. The absence of the experienced Williamson, known for his ability to anchor innings, adds pressure on Latham, who must now rely on a less-experienced batting lineup.

"Its disappointing not to have Kane (Williamson) over here. Will Young will play tomorrow. He has been part of the squad for a long time. He has batted from opening to playing at number 3-4.It's an opportunity to put his hands up, he has performed well in the past," Latham said.

"It's a huge exciting privilege for me to be in this position, if I am a captain or not a captain, I always try to perform my best for the team and that is certainly not going to be different being captain. Yes there is a more responsibility, but I have been in this situation before and have captained here before and back at home as well so I am excited to get into things and looking forward to it. " Latham added.

India, led by Rohit Sharma, has been in red-hot form, coming off a dominant Test series whitewash against Bangladesh and a 4-1 series win over England earlier this year. New Zealand’s task will be made more difficult by the absence of their talismanic batsman, as they face an Indian bowling attack spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and the rising Akash Deep, both of whom have been in excellent form.

With Williamson missing from the top order, New Zealand’s batting faces a significant test against India’s formidable bowlers. The key question for Latham and his team will be how they handle their batting concerns, especially on what could be challenging Indian pitches. Will Young’s inclusion in the team offers hope, but it remains to be seen whether the Black Caps can withstand India’s relentless bowling attack in the opening Test. The series opener will be a major test of Latham’s leadership and New Zealand’s ability to adapt to challenging conditions without one of their most reliable players.