The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a significant reshuffle in the Indian squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has been drafted into the Test squad, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released to participate in domestic cricket within India. Simultaneously, the Indian Under-19 team is competing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Oman, facing a setback as their leading wicket-taker, Ishan Sood, has been ruled out due to injury.
Squad Adjustments for the New Zealand Test Series
The BCCI selection committee has implemented key changes to the Indian team ahead of the Test series against New Zealand, which is scheduled to commence on 19 November 2026. Pacer Gurnoor Brar has been officially added to the squad and will join the other members for the red-ball format. Brar, who has represented India in 13 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and claimed 23 wickets, is yet to make his debut in Test cricket. His inclusion is seen as a move to bolster the pace attack for the conditions in New Zealand.
In a corresponding move, spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the Test setup. According to the BCCI, Kuldeep will now focus on playing domestic cricket in India. However, he remains part of the updated squad for the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has reached Wellington and joined the Test squad. The updated Test roster also features Dhruv Jurel as the second wicketkeeper. Shubman Gill will lead the side as captain, with KL Rahul serving as the vice-captain for the series.
Gurnoor Brar’s Inclusion and Kuldeep Yadav’s Release
Due to his call-up to the Test squad, Gurnoor Brar will not be available for the fifth ODI against New Zealand, which is set to take place in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, 15 November 2026. The BCCI has decided not to name a replacement for Brar in the ODI squad for this final encounter. Gurnoor Brar recently gained attention following an on-field interaction with Tim Seifert, and his elevation to the Test squad marks a significant milestone in his professional career.
The schedule for the upcoming matches is detailed below:
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test vs NZ | 19 November 2026 | Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| 2nd Test vs NZ | 27 November 2026 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| 5th ODI vs NZ | 15 November 2026 | Mount Maunganui |
The complete Indian Test squad for the New Zealand series includes: 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.
Under-19 Asia Cup Final: India vs Pakistan in Oman
While the senior team prepares for the Tests, the Indian Under-19 team is engaged in a high-stakes battle against Pakistan in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2026 final. The match is being held in Oman on Saturday, 14 November 2026. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Indian captain Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani mentioned that he was satisfied with the outcome as he also intended to bowl first. However, India suffered a major blow as Ishan Sood, the team’s top wicket-taker, was ruled out of the final due to a niggle. He has been replaced by Chigurupati Venkat in the playing XI.
Pakistan’s captain, Farhan Yousuf, expressed confidence in the batting conditions of the pitch. Historically, India has held an advantage in head-to-head encounters at the Under-19 level, though recent years have shown a different trend.
| Statistic | India U19 | Pakistan U19 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 31 | 31 |
| Wins | 17 | 13 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
| Wins since 2021 | 2 | 5 |
The India U19 playing XI for the final consists of: Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani (Captain), Aryaveer Sehwag, VK Vineet, Yashvardhan Chauhan, Arjun Rajput, Anvay Dravid (Wicketkeeper), Manal Chauhan, Mohit Ulva, Aryan Savsani, Kavya Patel, and Chigurupati Venkat. Aryaveer Sehwag, the son of former cricketer Virender Sehwag, is among the key players to watch in this final.
Updated Squad for the Fifth ODI
The Indian team for the fifth ODI has also seen updates, with Shreyas Iyer leading the side. Senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are part of this squad, while others like Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have already transitioned to the Test preparations. Kuldeep Yadav, despite being released from the Test squad, is included in this ODI list.
The updated 5th ODI squad: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper/Vice-Captain), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Aaqib Nabi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (Wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, and Kuldeep Yadav.
The Test series will provide an opportunity for several young talents like Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy to perform on the international stage. The first Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington is one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tour, followed by the second Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The BCCI’s decision to release Kuldeep Yadav for domestic cricket highlights the emphasis on match practice for the spinner in the longer format.
Source / स्रोत: Aaj Tak Sports, Indian Express, Patrika
