Suryakumar Yadav replaces injured KL Rahul for the forthcoming test series

The ever dependable KL Rahul has been ruled out of the upcoming test series against New Zealand after suffering an injury. The Indian board is yet to confirm the nature of the injury but announced dashing batsmen Suryakumar Yadav as his replacement.

Yadav was also part of the test team that went to England in the summer and was dropped without even trying him out. However, with KL ruled out of the test series and Rohit Sharma taking some time off, it’s now confirmed that Shubman Gill is very likely to open the innings along with Mayank Agarwal.

Gill was originally planned to play in the middle order but because of this sudden injury to KL, he will be facing the new ball. That being said, one of Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav is going to get an opportunity to make their debut in the red ball cricket for India. Shreyas, who was originally part of the squad, should get the opportunity and Rahul Dravid and company should back the lad as Ajinkya Rahane’s form has not been that good. Ahead of the huge South Africa series, the form of Rahane will be tested and a decision will be made whether the  vice captain of the Indian test team can still win games for his country on a consistent basis.

Indian squad for the first test – Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cheteshwar Puajra (vc), Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.