The Indian cricket team decided to drop KL Rahul as Shubman Gill made his return to the playing XI for the second Test encounter against New Zealand in Pune.

Shubman Gill is expected to return the playing for India, as they take on New Zealand in the second Test, in Pune.

KL Rahuls place in the Indian Test squad has come under scrutiny after his failure in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Fit-again Shubman Gill will return to the playing eleven and sidelining Sarfaraz Khan after his 150 in the second innings is out of equation now.

Head Coach Gautam Gambhir had supported KL Rahul ahead of the second Test match, but his absence from the playing XI raises concerns about the team management's view on KL Rahul's position

India opted for Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test against Australia in Pune, valuing his control and additional batting ability. Shubman Gill and Akash Deep replaced KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj,

India are featuring with three changes in the second Test match against New Zealand. Rohit Sharma said that KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav missed out in India's XI in the Pune Test.