Gurnoor Brar added to India Test squad for New Zealand tour, Kuldeep Yadav released

The selection committee has made two key changes in the Indian cricket team for the New Zealand tour. Young fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has been included in the Test squad. The two-match Test series will begin in Wellington on November 19, 2026.

Chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, has been released from the Test squad so that he can return home and take part in the domestic cricket tournament currently under way. Another major relief for the Indian team is that star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has reached Wellington and joined the Test squad.

The BCCI also said on social media that Brar has been added to Team India's squad for the Test series against New Zealand.

Brar has now joined the Test team directly. He will therefore not be available for the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand. The selection committee has not announced a replacement for Brar for the last ODI. Brar has taken 9 wickets in 3 ODIs on this tour so far, and is currently the highest wicket-taker in the ODI series.

Kuldeep Yadav has played only one match in this ODI series so far, and failed completely in it. He was in the playing XI for the fourth ODI at the Bay Oval. He conceded 73 runs in 8 overs and did not take a wicket.

India's updated Test squad is: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and Gurnoor Brar.

India's updated ODI squad is: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper and vice-captain), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Aaqib Nabi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.