Rachin Ravindra returns as New Zealand name 14-member squad for upcoming Test series against India

Rachin Ravindra is set to return after missing the white-ball series against India, as he has been named in New Zealand's two-match Test squad, which begins on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The top-order batter, who dislocated his right shoulder, picked up the injury while shooting a promo in September. 

The Kiwi squad looks nearly the same as the one that won the 2-1 series against England in June. Retired Kane Williamson and injured Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, and Zak Foulkes were left out of the squad that travelled to the United Kingdom.

Tom Latham leads a 14-man group with Ravindra, Devon Conway and Tom Blundell named

Ravindra, along with Devon Conway, who suffered a concussion during the pre-ODI series training session in Auckland, and wicket-keeper batter Tom Blundell, recovering from the quadriceps injury, have been working hard to be available for the opening Test of the red-ball series. 

If Blundell plays, then the second game at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch will be his 50th red-ball encounter. The one addition is the pacer Jacob Duffym, who missed the England tour while on paternity leave.

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BJ Watling, the former wicketkeeper-batter of the New Zealand side, who is replacing Luke Ronchi as the batting coach of the Blackcaps, will join the squad on November 16, three days prior to the beginning of the Wellington game.

New Zealand’s squad for Test series vs India-

Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell (w.k), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young

Table-toppers New Zealand and fourth-placed India both need a strong two-Test series for WTC qualification

The series is crucial for both the sides in their quest to make the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025/27 in June next year. Latham’s army is currently at the top of the table with 72.22 PCT, having earned four wins in six clashes and one defeat.

Meanwhile, the Shubman Gill-led Indian side is currently at the fourth position with five wins and four defeats in 11 clashes at a PCT of 51.52. They won their previous series in Sri Lanka by a 1-0 margin. 

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The visitors will need to win most of their seven remaining games, as they finish their cycle with the five-match red-ball series against Australia at home to have a chance of qualifying.