India's cricket team has made a significant adjustment ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand, set to begin on November 19, 2026, in Wellington. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that pacer Gurnoor Brar has been added to the squad, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released to participate in domestic cricket back in India.
Brar, who has impressed in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, taking nine wickets at an economy rate of 4.87 across three matches, will now focus on the Test format. His inclusion means he will miss the fifth ODI, with no replacement named for him. India currently leads the five-match ODI series 2-1 and aims to seal the series with a win on Sunday.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has also joined the Indian team in Wellington, ahead of the first Test. Pant had been unable to link up with the squad earlier due to an extended rehabilitation program. Regular skipper Shubman Gill, along with KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj, had already traveled to Wellington to prepare for the Test series. Shreyas Iyer will continue to lead the ODI team for the remaining matches.
The two-match Test series is part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, where India, currently in fourth place with a points percentage of 51.52, seeks crucial victories. New Zealand, leading the WTC standings with a points percentage of 72.22, will be a formidable opponent.