Image Source: ANI
[Saba Sports News] India captain Rohit Sharma explained the decision to include Mayank Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and others as traveling reserves for the New Zealand series, stating that the team wanted to monitor their workloads and assess their readiness for Test cricket.
The Indian selectors have named a 15-member squad for the three-match series starting on October 16 in Bengaluru, with Mayank, Nitish, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana joining as reserves.
“We’re considering taking them to Australia,” Rohit said at a pre-match press conference. “We want to monitor them, see their workloads, and build them up. A lot of these guys have had injuries in the past. It’s important to create bench strength, especially in our fast-bowling department.”
Rohit highlighted the depth they aim to build: “We have 8 or 9 options now. It’s not just about having 3 or 4. Like we have options in batting, we want the same in bowling. These players have also played in the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup, so we want to keep them close and ensure they’re well-prepared.”
The Indian skipper noted that while these players have limited red-ball experience, they have shown promise.
“They haven’t played a lot of red-ball cricket, but we want to groom them and bring them close to the team. In a short time, they’ve shown they have ability. If something happens tomorrow, we want to have options we trust,” Rohit added.