Wellington. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar was on Saturday included in the Indian squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand starting here from November 19. Whereas spinner Kuldeep Yadav was released from the team to play domestic cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement, “The Men's Selection Committee has included Gurnoor Brar in the Indian squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand starting from 19 November 2026 in Wellington.”
Kuldeep OUT, Rishabh Pant joins
According to the statement, “Kuldeep Yadav will be released from the Test team to play in the ongoing domestic cricket in India.” Following his selection in the Test team, Brar will not be available for the fifth and final ODI to be held at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. Due to the conditions in New Zealand being favorable for fast bowlers, Kuldeep was unlikely to get a place in the playing eleven of the two Test matches.
India's updated test squad
BCCI also informed that wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant has joined the team before the match to be held at Basin Reserve. India's revised Test squad: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Lokesh Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and Gurnoor Brar.
Gill and Rahul busy preparing for test series
Captain Shubman Gill had focused on the Test series only after the first three matches of the ODI series. Apart from them, Anshul Kamboj and KL Rahul have also left the ODI team and started preparing for the Test. At the same time, this tour can prove to be special for fast bowler Gurnoor Brar, who has been included in the Test team. Brar has so far represented the Indian team only in ODI cricket. He has taken 23 wickets in his 13 ODI matches.
Brar, who troubles the batsmen with his fast bowling, also gets the advantage of his tall height. There is good bounce in his balls, which can prove useful for the Indian team in New Zealand conditions. Now after getting a place in the Test team, all eyes will be on his possible Test debut.