The BCCI has added fast bowler Gurnoor Brar to India’s two-Test squad for New Zealand and released Kuldeep Yadav to play domestic cricket. Brar will miss Sunday’s fifth ODI with no replacement named, and Rishabh Pant has joined the Test group in Wellington.
Wellington: India’s selectors have made two changes to the Test squad for the New Zealand series, adding fast bowler Gurnoor Brar and releasing Kuldeep Yadav, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has joined the group in Wellington with five days to go before the first Test.
Brar comes in, Kuldeep goes back
The BCCI said Kuldeep has been released “in order to play the ongoing domestic cricket back in India”. Brar, who took 4 for 30 in the second ODI on this tour, is part of the Test squad but will not be available for Sunday’s fifth ODI, and the board said there will be no replacement for him in that match.
Pant clears fitness
Pant has received fitness clearance after recovering from a side strain he picked up at the Irani Cup in Srinagar, where he captained Rest of India. He had been rehabilitating at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru since 23 October and missed the first two four-day matches against New Zealand A. He was expected to join the third match, but his rehabilitation was extended.
The squad for the Tests
The updated Test squad is Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and Gurnoor Brar. The squad was first announced, with Gill and Iyer sharing the ODI captaincy. The two Tests begin on 19 November in Wellington.
Announcement: BCCI senior selection committee, 14 November 2026 — Gurnoor Brar added to the Test squad; Kuldeep Yadav released for domestic cricket; Rishabh Pant joins the squad in Wellington after fitness clearance.
Next: India v New Zealand, fifth ODI, Sunday 15 November; first Test, Wellington, 19 November.
