Dhruv Jurel Named Captain of India A Squad for New Zealand Tour, KL Rahul Not Chosen as Captain

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the India A squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand starting October 24, 2026. Despite the presence of senior players like KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, and Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel was named captain for the three unofficial four-day Test matches. The series is intended to help players adjust to seaming and bouncy conditions ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Jurel's captaincy reflects the selectors' strategy to foster leadership for the future, given his prior experience leading India U-19, Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy, and previous India A matches.