Recently Appointed New Zealand captain Tom Latham has confirmed that star batsman Kane Williamson will miss the first Test against India, which begins on October 16, 2024, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Williamson is currently sidelined due to a groin strain that has not fully healed.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the match, Latham expressed disappointment over Williamson’s absence but announced that Will Young would take his place in the squad. "It’s disappointing not to have Kane (Williamson) over here. Will Young will play tomorrow. He has been part of the squad for a long time. He has batted from opening to playing at number 3-4. It’s an opportunity to put his hands up, he has performed well in the past," Latham said, as quoted by India Today.

Williamson's absence is a significant blow for the Kiwis as they head into the highly anticipated series against India. However, Latham emphasized his confidence in Young’s abilities to step up and fill the gap left by Williamson.

Latham himself is newly appointed as the skipper of New Zealand's red-ball team, taking over from Tim Southee, who relinquished the role after the team's recent whitewash against Sri Lanka. This will be Latham's tenth time leading the Test side, and he expressed his excitement at the challenge ahead. "It’s a huge exciting privilege for me to be in this position. If I am a captain or not a captain, I always try to perform my best for the team. Yes, there is more responsibility, but I have been in this situation before and have captained here before, so I am excited to get into things and looking forward to it," Latham added.