India have made a change to their Test squad ahead of the upcoming two-match series against New Zealand, with left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav released
and fast bowler Gurnoor Brar added to the squad.
The selection change comes as India prepare for the red-ball assignment, which begins on November 19 in Wellington. BCCI announced the latest tweak on Saturday.
Brar's impressive performances in the ongoing ODI series have reportedly impressed the selectors, prompting the team management to include the tall fast bowler in the Test setup.
Kuldeep, meanwhile, has been released from Test duties and is expected to return to India to feature in domestic cricket. The decision results from India's preference for additional pace options in New Zealand, where conditions are expected to offer bounce and assistance to fast bowlers. Kuldeep is expected to feature for Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as he won't play a part in the red-ball format.
Brar's inclusion strengthens a pace attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has reached Wellington and started preparations with the Test squad as he continues his return from injury.
India begin their two-match series against the Black Caps on November 19, with the second Test scheduled to start on November 27 in Christchurch. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
India's Updated Test Squad
Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar.
India's Updated Squad For Fifth ODI
Shreyas Iyer (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (WK, VC), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav.
