India's Playing 11 for the second Test against New Zealand might have been confirmed by India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. The two teams will square off at the Maharashtra Cricket (MCA) Stadium in Pune for the second Test starting on October 24. Ahead of the fixture, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury while keeping wickets in the first innings and did not return to his keeping duties for the rest of the match, only coming in to bat but looking uncomfortable while running between the wickets, has regained full fitness.
Ryan ten Doeschate's comments suggests that Pant is all set to take the field in Pune, much to the delight of Indian fans and team management. "Everyone is really well. There wasn't too much bowling in the first Test. The fast bowlers are all good. Rishabh is pretty good. He was having a little bit of discomfort the other day with the movement of his knee, but fingers crossed, he'll be good to keep in the Test (in Pune)," Ten Doechate said before the start of the match.
Shubman Gill Set To Return To The Playing 11 In Pune
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill is all set to return to Team India's Playing 11. Notably, Gill was not 100 per cent fit for the Bengaluru Test and hence had to miss out but Ten Doeschate confirmed that he would be back in the 11 for the Pune match.
"He (Gill) looks so (fit). He has batted well in Bengaluru and has had a few hits. He had some discomfort but he looks good to go," the former Netherlands cricketer said.
Sarfaraz Khan Ahead Of KL Rahul?
Even though Ten Doeschate did not say it himself that Sarfaraz Khan would be picked ahead of KL Rahul, he did hint the fact that whoever is best for the team will be picked in the 11.
"We're not worried about his (KL Rahul) form. We have a lot of faith in him. It's a very competitive environment. With a 150 and hundreds in the Irani Trophy (for Sarfaraz), The decision will be what's best for the team, but we will continue to back all the players," ten Doeschate said.
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India's Probable Playing 11 For Second Test Against New Zealand
Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav/Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj