The BCCI Men’s Selection Committee has added young fast bowler Gurnoor Brar to India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand, beginning on November 19, 2026, in Wellington. The decision comes ahead of a challenging assignment in conditions expected to favour fast bowlers. Meanwhile, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the Test squad to return to India and participate in domestic cricket.
The BCCI confirmed the development through an official statement, while also announcing that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant had joined the Test squad in Wellington. “Kuldeep Yadav will be released from the Test squad in order to play the ongoing domestic cricket back in India,” the BCCI stated. “Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant – the wicketkeeper-batter – has joined the members of the Test squad in Wellington.”
With Gurnoor Brar joining the red-ball squad, he will not be available for India’s fifth and final ODI against New Zealand. The selectors have decided against naming a replacement for the young pacer.
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Pant’s arrival is another significant development for India, as he has recovered from the side strain sustained during the Irani Cup in Srinagar between October 1 and 4. The wicketkeeper-batter had captained the Rest of India side before beginning his rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on October 23.
Pant was initially named in India’s Test squad for the New Zealand tour and the India A squad for the four-day matches against New Zealand A, subject to fitness clearance. However, he missed the first two fixtures and was also unavailable for the third match, played from November 7 to 10, as the medical team wanted him to undergo further rehabilitation and fitness assessments.
🚨 News 🚨
Gurnoor Brar added to #TeamIndia’s squad for #NZvIND Tests
More details on the squad updates ▶️ https://t.co/hYDKOnjK5e https://t.co/wz9kSubfzZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 14, 2026
India are currently involved in a five-match ODI series against New Zealand, with the final encounter scheduled for Sunday. The teams will then shift their attention to the two-Test series, which begins on November 19.
Shubman Gill will captain India in the Test matches, with KL Rahul appointed vice-captain. The squad includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep and Gurnoor Brar.
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For the fifth ODI, Shreyas Iyer will continue as captain, with Ishan Kishan serving as vice-captain. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav are also part of the squad.
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
