India A to Play Three Four-Day Matches in New Zealand Ahead of Test Series

India A are scheduled to face New Zealand A across three four-day matches, serving as a crucial acclimatisation camp before the senior team's two-match Test series that decides the World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign. The matches will take place at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on October 24, moving to the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 31, and concluding in Lincoln on November 7.

Rather than relying solely on net sessions, the team management has included nine players from the senior Test squad into the India A roster. Yashasvi Jaiswal will experience his first tour to New Zealand, facing the mental test of curbing his natural attacking instincts and leaving moving balls outside off-stump in seaming and bouncy conditions.

KL Rahul, named vice-captain for the Test series, joins only for the first practice match before linking up with the ODI squad. Meanwhile, the crucial No. 3 batting spot sees both Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal included in the squad, with Padikkal coming off back-to-back centuries against Sri Lanka A.

Rishabh Pant will miss the first two matches due to a left-side strain, with Kumar Kushagra named as his replacement, while Dhruv Jurel takes over the captaincy of the India A team. Fast bowler Akash Deep, returning from a lumbar stress injury that kept him out of the majority of the past year including IPL 2026, aims to regain rhythm on pitches conducive to seam and pace.

Anshul Kamboj and all-rounder Washington Sundar complete the core group looking to build essential stamina and adapt their skills to the challenging Kiwi conditions ahead of the main Test series.