Pujara Goes Pace-Heavy: India's Ideal Playing XI for NZ Test Revealed
Former batter Cheteshwar Pujara reveals his ideal India playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand, featuring a four-prong pace attack.
Former Indian batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara has shared his vision for the Pujara India playing XI as the team prepares for a high-stakes encounter against New Zealand. With the World Test Championship (WTC) on the line, the veteran batter has opted for a strategy that prioritizes raw pace and aggressive batting to tackle the Kiwis in their own backyard.
The Battle Plan: Wellington and Christchurch
India is set for a grueling tour of New Zealand, which begins with five T20Is and five ODIs starting November 22. However, the crown jewels of the tour are the two critical ICC World Test Championship matches. The first Test is scheduled to kick off on November 19 in Wellington, followed by the second clash in Christchurch starting November 27.
Pujara's Tactical Selection: Batting Power
In a video shared by Cricinfo, Pujara outlined a batting order designed for stability and explosive scoring. He sticks with the dynamic opening duo of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to set the tone.
The most interesting call comes at number three, where Pujara has handed the spot to Devdutt Padikkal. This selection follows Padikkal's stellar performance in Sri Lanka, where he dominated the bowling attack with two centuries.
The middle order remains robust with captain Shubman Gill occupying the number four slot. The wicketkeeping duties are split between the explosive Rishabh Pant at five and Dhruv Jurel at six, though Pant's presence remains contingent on his final fitness clearance.
Bowling Strategy: Four Pacers, One Spinner
Recognizing the conditions in New Zealand, Pujara has leaned heavily into a pace-dominant attack. He has selected only one specialist spinner, Ravindra Jadeja, who will operate at number seven as the primary spin-bowling all-rounder.
The bowling depth is bolstered by the inclusion of pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy at number eight. The tail is completed by a formidable trio of speedsters: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
Pujara's Proposed Playing XI:
- KL Rahul
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Shubman Gill
- Rishabh Pant
- Dhruv Jurel
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
The Full Squad Depth
While Pujara has his preferred XI, the official squad offers several alternatives. The batting reserves include Sai Sudharsan, while the pace battery is further strengthened by Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj. In the all-rounder and spin department, India has Washington Sundar and the wrist-spin wizard Kuldeep Yadav available to provide balance if the conditions shift.
The complete India Test squad: Shubman Gill [C], Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul [VC], Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant [WK], Dhruv Jurel [WK], Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj.