KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, India's first-choice opening pair in Tests, will have an opportunity to build towards the two-match series in New Zealand when they feature in three red-ball games for India A on the shadow tour beginning October 26 in Lincoln. The squad, led by Dhruv Jurel, also features Rishabh Pant, whose inclusion is subject to fitness. Pant led Rest of India to victory over Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir in the Irani Cup in Srinagar last week. Although unconfirmed reports have suggested that Pant has the flu, which he picked up during the Irani Cup game, Pant's condition is unknown. The Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) confirmed earlier this week that Pant would not be playing in the Ranji Trophy opener on October 11. The first round is set to feature a number of India regulars, including Rahul and Washington Sundar, who was pulled out of the T20I series against West Indies to gain some match time in the longer format. Devdutt Padikkal, India's incumbent Test No. 3, has also been named in the squad alongside B Sai Sudharsan, who returned to action after a toe injury during the ongoing India A series against Australia A in Puducherry. R Smaran was handed a maiden India A call-up on the back of a strong showing for Rest of India in the Irani Cup. Smaran struck 68 and 135 in Rest of India's 167-run victory, taking over as captain of Karnataka in Padikkal's absence for the Ranji season opener against Australia A. Two other major performers from the match - seamers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar - are also part of the touring party. Akash Deep returned to action in that game after a seven-month injury layoff and picked up six wickets in the match, while Mukesh - who played the most recent of his three Tests in 2024 - picked up a six-for in the second innings to seal victory. Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, and Auqib Nabi, who took the most wickets during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season with 60, are the other fast bowlers in the squad. Mukesh Choudhary is also coming off a five-for in the Irani Cup. Nabi, who is also set to feature in the Ranji opener, made his ODI debut in last week's second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati. The team has two frontline spinners in Washington and Manav Suthar. Suthar, India's standout bowler in their victory over Sri Lanka in the Test series, is coming off a county stint for Warwickshire, where he took 14 wickets in four games. Back-up batter is likely to be Yash Rathod. He impressed for India A in the second unofficial Test against Australia A recently, hitting a solid 80 to avert defeat on the final day on a turning track. The team will leave on October 16 for New Zealand, with the first game on October 26 in Lincoln. Before the tour concludes on November 10 in Lincoln, the Hagley Oval in Christchurch will host the second game. As part of the ongoing WTC cycle, India will play two Tests in Wellington and Christchurch on November 19 and December 1. Since February-March 2020, this will be India's first Test tour in New Zealand. India A squad for tour of New Zealand Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Rishabh Pant (wk)*, Dhruv Jurel (capt, wk), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar