Team management restructured the touring party to bolster the seam attack ahead of the two-match series beginning November 19 in Wellington. Kuldeep Yadav will head home to feature in domestic cricket, leaving Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as the frontline spin options. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar is set to join the squad in Wellington, meaning he will sit out the fifth ODI without a replacement named. Additionally, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has arrived to link up with the Indian squad ahead of the final one-day match at the Basin Reserve.
Key points
India will rely heavily on pace with a contingent featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krish…: India will rely heavily on pace with a contingent featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Anshul Kamboj, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Shubman Gill will lead the updated Test squad alongside vice-captain KL Rahul, while Shre…: Shubman Gill will lead the updated Test squad alongside vice-captain KL Rahul, while Shreyas Iyer captains the one-day side for the series finale.
The national selectors decided against naming a replacement player for the final one-day…: The national selectors decided against naming a replacement player for the final one-day international despite Gurnoor Brar sitting out.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
As
first reported by TimesofIndia.com, fast bowler Gurnoor Brar was added to India's squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand on Saturday, while spinner
Kuldeep Yadav was released to play domestic cricket.
The two-Test series begins in Wellington on November 19. Gurnoor will join the Indian squad in Wellington and, as a result, will miss the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand on Sunday. The
BCCI has confirmed that India will not name a replacement for him for the match.
Kuldeep, meanwhile, will return to India after the fifth ODI to take part in 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," said the BCCI in a statement.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has also joined the Indian squad ahead of the fifth ODI at the Basin Reserve, the BCCI added.
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