The BCCI selection committee has named Gurnoor Brar to the Indian Test squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, replacing spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Gujarat Samachar reported on November 14.
The decision comes as the Indian team prepares for a two-match Test series starting November 19 in Wellington. To facilitate domestic cricket participation, the board has released Yadav from the Test squad to ensure he maintains match practice in India, according to a BCCI media advisory issued on Saturday, November 14.
While Brar joins the Test squad immediately, he will not participate in the fifth One-Day International (ODI) match. Team management confirmed that no replacement will be announced for the final ODI.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has received fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is set to join the Test squad in Wellington, GSTV Gujarati news reported on November 12.
Pant’s availability follows a side strain sustained in early October while leading the Rest of India team during the Irani Cup. He underwent rehabilitation and completed two days of fitness and simulation tests on November 10 and 11 to prove his readiness, GSTV Gujarati news stated.
Although Pant was unable to participate in recent unofficial Test matches played by India-A due to his injury, his clearance allows him to integrate directly with the main Test team for the series opener. His return is expected to strengthen both the batting lineup and the wicketkeeping options for captain Shubman Gill and the team management, GSTV Gujarati news reported.
The Indian management has implemented a specific plan to retain three fast bowlers in New Zealand to prepare for the conditions ahead of the Test series, Sandesh reported on November 9.
Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Aaquib Nabi will remain in the country to gain experience with the local pitches. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said that the experience gained from the movement and seam offered by New Zealand pitches will be useful for Test preparations.
Kotak highlighted that the initial two ODIs provided bowlers with significant swing and seam movement, and understanding pitch grass levels, ball movement, and weather effects is essential for fast bowlers.
The Test players were scheduled to join a preparation camp on November 11. While the coaching staff includes bowling coach Morne Morkel and batting coach Kotak in Wellington, head coach Gautam Gambhir will remain with the ODI squad, Sandesh reported.
Kotak said that Test players will receive five to six practice sessions to prepare for the challenges of red-ball cricket. He also said that India-A’s three matches served as an important preparation component for the series.
The following players have been named for the two-match series, Gujarat Samachar reported:
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Vice-Captain | KL Rahul |
| Wicketkeepers | Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel |
| Batsmen | Jashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| All-rounders | Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Anshul Kamboj |
| Bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah, Prasiddh Krishna, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar |
The first Test is scheduled to begin on November 19 in Wellington, followed by the second Test in Christchurch starting November 27, Sandesh reported.