India could also field a near-to-full-strength side for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune as well, with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirming that Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are fit and available for selection.
Both the players are getting their match fitness after injury had ruled them out or restricted them from playing enough at Bengaluru, where India lost. Pant was on his knee in injury during New Zealand's first innings and didn't come out to further wicketkeeping through the balance of the match with Dhruv Jurel stepping in to play behind the stumps though Pant is expected to be fit enough to return to the pulpit for Pune.
"Yeah, I think everyone's really well. There wasn't too much bowling in that first Test, so the fast bowlers are all good. Rishabh's pretty good," Ryan said in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday. "I think Rohit Sharma touched on it the other day. He was having a little bit of discomfort at the end range of his movement with the knee. But fingers crossed he'll be good to keep in this Test as well."
Shubman Gill, who had missed the first Test due to neck stiffness, has also done well. "He's batted last week in Bangalore, he had a few nets," the assistant coach said of Gill. "He's got a little bit of discomfort, but I'll think he will be good to go for the Test."
Ryan said that KL Rahul himself has not expressed any concern about his form but, as a matter of fact, there is a big battle for places within the side. Rahul was miserably out of touch in the Bengaluru Test where he received for a duck in the first innings and 12 in the second one.
The return of Gill does give India a stern selection headache, though, especially in the batting line-up. But anyone who got the chance to play in Bengaluru in place of Gill - well, Sarfaraz Khan took the opportunity with an outstanding 150. His performance takes the Indian middle-order decision dilemma to a whole new level, with Rahul's form now coming into serious question.
"He didn't play and miss at any balls. That's what tends to happen when you're not getting runs. He got two balls in the game, one down the leg side and one that he managed to nick," said ten Doeschate. "There's certainly no concerns about KL. He's batting nicely, and he's in a good mental space."
The assistant coach talks of a cut-throat competition for pieces in the playing XI, especially in the middle order. "Sarfaraz was brilliant in the last Test. We certainly have to fit seven pieces into six spots for this Test. We will look at the pitch now and decide what's going to be best for the team," he said.
The second Test between India and New Zealand begins from October 24.
Read also| Cummins Prepared to 'Make Amends' in Upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Next Month
Read also| India Include Washington Sundar in Squad for Remainder of Test Series Against New Zealand
