IND vs NZ Tests: Gurnoor Brar added to India's squad ahead of series

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Team India is set to clash with New Zealand in a two-match Test series. The first match is scheduled to be played from November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Ahead of the series, pacer Gurnoor Brar has been added to India’s squad and star spinner Kuldeep Yadav was released to play domestic cricket.

“The Men’s Selection Committee has added Gurnoor Brar to the Indian squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, starting November 19, 2026 in Wellington. Kuldeep Yadav will be released from the Test squad in order to play the ongoing domestic cricket back in India,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

With Brar being included in the Test squad, he will not be available for the fifth ODI match against the “Black Caps”. His ability to generate extra bounce can pose a challenge to the hosts.

There is a possibility that Team India will enter the series with four pacers, who will be led by ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah. Additionally, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna are also in the squad.

On the other hand, considering the pace-friendly conditions, Kuldeep was not expected to be a part of the team in the two-match Test series and therefore will return to India and play in domestic cricket.

Also, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has joined the squad ahead of the series. Earlier, he missed out on the India A series as he could not recover from his side strain.

The majority of India’s Test team members got valuable time in the India A series. Captain Shubman Gill did not play the A series but left the ODI squad after three games to focus on red-ball preparation.

IND vs NZ Tests: Full squads

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.

New Zealand: Tom Latham (C), Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Jacob Duffy, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Will Young, Tom Blundell (WK), Kyle Jamieson, Glenn Phillips, Blair Tickner, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith.

(With PTI Inputs)

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