India Adds Gurnoor Brar and Releases Kuldeep Yadav for New Zealand Tests

India added fast bowler Gurnoor Brar to the squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand and released wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to play domestic cricket.

The selection committee announced the changes on Saturday ahead of the opening fixture scheduled to begin on November 19 in Wellington.

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also joined the team in Wellington after recovering from a back injury sustained during the Irani Cup.

Team management decided to alter the roster to strengthen the pace attack to handle conditions expected to suit seam bowling during the series.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the roster adjustments in an official release.

"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," said the board.

Brar has taken nine wickets in three matches during the ongoing limited-overs tour, emerging as a successful bowler for the side.

The twenty-six-year-old pacer will miss the fifth and final one-day international, and the team will not name a replacement for him.

Kuldeep will return home following the final limited-overs fixture to participate in domestic matches after spending much of the tour on the bench.

"Kuldeep Yadav will be released from the Test squad in order to play the ongoing domestic cricket back in India," said the board.

The left-arm spinner struggled during the fourth match of the one-day series, conceding seventy-three runs without taking a wicket.

Brar originally travelled to the country as part of the travelling support staff before earning a promotion to the limited-overs squad.

The second Test of the upcoming series is scheduled to begin on November 27 in Christchurch.