India name squad for NZ Tests

India have kept faith with Rohit Sharma as they named the out-of-form batsman in a 15-man squad for the home Test series against New Zealand beginning next week.

The 29-year-old, an automatic selection in India’s limited-overs sides, last scored a Test century nearly three years ago against the West Indies.

On India's recent tour of West Indies, Sharma, who averages 32.62 from 18 Tests, scored nine and 41 in the only match that he played in the four-Test series.

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"Rohit is a fabulous player, with immense talent," chief selector Sandeep Patil told reporters in Mumbai.

"We have stuck to the combination which has done very well for us. We were of the opinion that this was the best possible combination for New Zealand."

The selectors retained 15 of the 17 players who toured the West Indies, where India won the Test series 2-0, with allrounder Stuart Binny and seamer Shardul Thakur the two to miss out. 

The series against New Zealand marks the beginning of a busy season that will see India play 13 home Tests between now and March next year, with England, Bangladesh and Australia all set for tours.

The first Test against New Zealand begins in the northern city of Kanpur on September 22. The second Test is in Kolkate and the three-Test series finishes in Indore.

India squad:

Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, W Saha (wicketkeeper), R Jadeja, M Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shikhar Dhawan, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav.

New Zealand Test squad: 

 Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.

Test series:

September 22: 1st Test at Kanpur

September 30: 2nd Test at Kolkata

October 8: 3rd Test at Indore