India release Kuldeep Yadav from Test squad, Gurnoor Brar added for New Zealand series: Know full details

India have released Kuldeep Yadav from their Test squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, while fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has been added ahead of the first Test in Wellington on November 19. The decision comes as India expect pace-friendly conditions in New Zealand and look to strengthen their fast-bowling options for the two-match series.

Brar earned his place after an impressive run in the ongoing ODI series, where he has taken nine wickets in three matches. His performances have made him India's leading wicket-taker in the series so far. Kuldeep, meanwhile, has been released to play domestic cricket after making his first appearance in the fourth ODI.

The squad changes have also brought attention to India's plans for the upcoming Test matches. Rishabh Pant has joined the team in Wellington ahead of the opening game, while Brar will be hoping to make his Test debut after receiving another opportunity to be part of the Indian squad.

Why Did India Release Kuldeep Yadav From the Test Squad?

Kuldeep Yadav has been released from India's Test squad to play domestic cricket ahead of the New Zealand series. The spinner was part of the original squad but will now miss the two-match assignment. India have added Gurnoor Brar as another pace option, with the team expecting conditions to help fast bowlers.

Kuldeep's return in the fourth ODI against New Zealand did not go as planned. In his first match of the series, he conceded 73 runs in eight overs without taking a wicket. Will Young and Finn Allen attacked him during the innings as New Zealand went on to score 333 runs.

Kuldeep has also had a quiet run in Test cricket this year, taking four wickets in two matches at an average of 41.25. However, his release is to allow him to play domestic cricket and should not be seen as a sign that India have lost confidence in him. The Kuldeep Yadav released Test squad update is mainly a squad change ahead of the New Zealand assignment.

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Why was Gurnoor Brar added to India's Test squad? What it means for Wellington

Gurnoor Brar has earned his place in India's Test squad after some impressive performances in the ongoing ODI series. The 26-year-old pacer has taken nine wickets in three matches at an average of 15.89. His best performance came in Wellington, where he picked up 4/30 and helped India win the match by four runs under the DLS method.

Brar also picked up two wickets in the fourth ODI at Mount Maunganui, dismissing Tim Seifert and Michael Bracewell. Although India lost the match by 244 runs, his bowling performance added to his growing reputation. He also has a good record in first-class cricket, with 71 wickets from 22 matches at an average of 26.41.

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This is Brar's second Test call-up after he was selected for the one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier this year but did not get a chance to play. He will now be hoping to make his Test debut for India during the New Zealand series. With the first Test starting in Wellington on November 19 and the second scheduled in Christchurch from November 27, Brar will have another chance to impress the team management.

India's updated Test squad for New Zealand series 2026-

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 and Gurnoor Brar.