India vs New Zealand: Rahane likely to lead Team India in Kanpur Test; Rohit-Kohli set to be rested

As
per
reports,
the
team’s
vice-captain
in
Tests,
Ajinkya
Rahane,
will
be
leading
the
side
in
the
absence
of
Kohli
and
Rohit.
Earlier
it
was
reported
that
Rohit
–
who
had
a
terrific
outing
in
the
Test
series
in
England
–
will
be
promoted
as
Kohli’s
deputy
in
the
red-ball
format
as
well.

Rahane
–
who
has
had
a
below-par
show
in
the
Tests
played
in
2021
–
might
be
demoted.
However,
current
reports
now
have
it
that
the
right-handed
middle-order
batsman
will
be
given
an
extended
rope
by
the
team
management.

As
per
a
Times
of
India
report,
the
decision
to
rest
Kohli
and
Rohit
was
taken
on
Thursday
(November
11)
after
a
meeting
of
the
selectors.
Several
other
regular
faces
in
India’s
Test
side
like
Jasprit
Bumrah,
Mohammed
Shami,
Rishabh
Pant
and
Shardul
Thakur
are
also
going
to
be
rested
during
the
Test
series.

In
Rohit’s
absence,
KL
Rahul
–
who
opened
the
innings
for
India
in
England
–
will
get
a
new
opening
partner,
most
likely
his
Karnataka
teammate
Mayank
Agarwal.
While
young
Shubman
Gill
might
be
asked
to
bat
in
the
middle
order
along
with
Rahane
and
Hanuma
Vihari.

Wriddhiman
Saha
will
be
donning
the
wicketkeeper’s
gloves
in
the
absence
of
Pant
–
who
has
cemented
his
spot
in
the
side
as
a
first-choice
glovesman.

The
report
further
claimed
that
the
selectors
had
thought
of
resting
Rohit
in
the
second
Test
but
changed
their
decision
analysing
the
right-handed
batsman’s
workload.