KL Rahul ruled out of Test Series, Suryakumar added

Opening Test is scheduled to begin from Thursday in Kanpur

Senior India opener KL Rahul was on Tuesday ruled out of the two-Test series against New Zealand due to a muscle strain in his left thigh.Suryakumar Yadav, who was a part of India’s Test squad that travelled to England, has been added to the side.

“He will now undergo rehabilitation at NCA in preparation for the series against South Africa scheduled next month,” BCCI said in a release.

Rahul was missing from the Indian team’s customary practice session, attended by almost all the players at the Green Park stadium on Tuesday.

There is a strong possibility that either Shreyas Iyer or Suryakumar Yadav will make his Test debut and bat in the middle order.

Young batter Shubhman was expected to bat in the middle order but now in the absence of Rahul, he will be asked to play in his usual opening slot.

You may find us playing 3 spinners, says NZ coach

New Zealand coach Gary Stead has hinted that if the conditions demand, the visiting side may field three specialist spinners against India in the first Test. “You have to look and realise how teams come here often and don’t win. That’s the enormity of obvious challenge,” Stead said.

Being fearless has helped me enjoy game: Pujara

It wasn’t an alteration in technique but a fearless approach that has brought the joy back in batting for Cheteshwar Pujara, who won’t put undue pressure of performance on himself. “When it comes to performing, the mindset was a little different but when it comes to technique I don’t think there was a major change in technique. It was just the approach and I was a little fearless which helps,” Pujara said.

Excited Ajaz ready for India challenge

New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel is excited to return to the country of his birth but as a cricketer he is well aware of the challenges that a spinner has to tackle against India in their own backyard.

“India is about hustle and bustle. There is a bit of excitement about India. I always think about it as organised chaos to a certain degree, something that really makes it special,” he said.