NZ A and India A begin four-day series in Lincoln

India A squad eyes Test selection

The India A touring party features KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, and Auqib Nabi. Rishabh Pant's participation in the tour remains subject to his fitness.

These players are expected to push for selection in India's senior Test squad for the two-Test series starting on November 19.

Shikhar Mohan earns India A call-up

Shikhar Mohan, a 21-year-old left-hand batter from Jharkhand, earned a call-up to the India A squad for the second and third four-day matches. This selection follows his performance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, where he scored 613 runs, including a double-century, across 12 innings.

This season, Mohan has scored 297 runs in two games at an average of 99.00. His scores included 143 against Kerala, and 27 and 127 against Maharashtra.

During the Duleep Trophy final in September, Mohan recorded half-centuries in both innings for East Zone against South Zone. In October, he hit 60 in the first innings for Rest of India against Jammu & Kashmir in the Irani Cup.

New Zealand A squad structure

New Zealand Cricket named a 19-player pool for the three four-day matches against India A. This group features 11 international players.

The squad includes players such as Mariu, Nicholls, Lister, and Hay. These 19 members will rotate across the three games, with 13 players named for each fixture.

Six players from the pool will be released to participate in the 50-overs Ford Trophy. That tournament begins on October 28.

Cam Paul and Nick Kelly join for third match

Cam Paul, a 21-year-old fast-bowling allrounder, joins the New Zealand A squad for the third four-day match. This appearance marks his first selection for the team.

In five first-class appearances, Paul has taken wickets at a bowling average of just under 22. He has also claimed two five-wicket hauls.

Paul said he was gutted to miss the last tour and is fizzed to take this next step. He added that he wants to test himself against the best.

Nick Kelly, the newest player to receive an NZC central contract, is also scheduled to feature in the third match.

NZC high-performance outlook

NZC head of high-performance development Pete Sanford said the board looks forward to hosting India A. He said India announced a strong line up that offers an opportunity to test strengths against international class.

Sanford said there is a huge buzz around having India on New Zealand shores. He added that the squad is raring to get the domestic summer underway.

Tour schedule and Test series lead-up

Subsequent matches will take place in Christchurch and Lincoln.

The tour runs concurrently with the senior team's white-ball series against New Zealand. The three-match tour concludes before the two-Test series between India and New Zealand.

The senior Test series is scheduled to begin on November 19.