India vs New Zealand: India have named their Test squad for the two-match series in New Zealand. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep are both back. Akash Deep returns after an eight-month injury layoff. He proved his fitness and form in the Irani Cup and the opening round of the Ranji Trophy. He joins Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna in a 16-member squad. Rishabh Pant’s selection is subject to fitness.
The team management is clearly prioritising the World Test Championship over the ODI World Cup build-up. India need to win at least six of their remaining seven Tests to stay in the race for the WTC final. So the two-Test series in New Zealand is a top priority.
Prasidh and Pant are expected to prove their fitness at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence next week. Their assessment will decide their availability for the Test series.
Gurnoor Brar has been left out of the Test squad. The selectors want him to focus on his development in the ODI format ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The first Test begins on November 19 in Wellington and runs until November 23. The second Test starts on November 27 in Christchurch and runs until December 1.
India vs New Zealand Test Series: Highs of the Indian squad
Jasprit Bumrah is back to lead the attack. This is the biggest boost for India. Bumrah has not played a Test in 2026. His last red-ball match was against South Africa in late 2025. The team has managed his workload carefully. Sanjay Bangar called this “the most important series” for India’s World Test Championship hopes. Mitchell Santner also said Bumrah will be key, noting his ability to nip and swing the ball will be crucial.
Akash Deep returns after nearly eight months out with a lower-back injury. Before the injury, he was becoming the ideal third seamer alongside Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. His return is a reward for his Irani Cup performance. He took six wickets there. Anshul Kamboj has also been recalled. Brar was dropped.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is a seam-bowling all-rounder. Washington Sundar is an off-spinning all-rounder. Both are back. Bangar said this balance is “critical” for taking 20 wickets in New Zealand. Both missed the Sri Lanka series through injury. Their return allows India to play a genuine fifth bowling option without weakening the batting.
Sai Sudharsan is back after missing the Sri Lanka tour with a toe injury. He gives India another top-order option. Devdutt Padikkal keeps his place. He scored two centuries at number three in Sri Lanka. Bangar said Padikkal’s runs at number three have “addressed several concerns” in the batting line-up.
India vs New Zealand Test Series: Lows of the Indian squad
Rishabh Pant is in the squad, but only if he passes a fitness test. He hurt his left side during the Irani Cup in early October. He was captaining Rest of India at the time. He was then ruled out of India A’s first two games against New Zealand A. Reports say he needs about five weeks to recover. That puts him in a race to be ready for the first Test on November 19.
Prasidh Krishna is also in the squad subject to fitness. He hurt his left hamstring during the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati on September 30. Scans showed a strain, not a tear. But he needs about three weeks to recover. As of mid-October, he was still doing strength and conditioning work. The burden on Bumrah and Siraj would increase a lot.
Manav Suthar was a bright spot in Sri Lanka. But he has been dropped. The selectors feel New Zealand wickets will not suit his bowling. That logic makes sense because New Zealand conditions usually help seamers more than spinners. But it leaves India with only Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as specialist spinners. Washington Sundar is the third spin option.
The batting line-up is inexperienced for these conditions. Bangar admitted that “overall India’s batting line-up is relatively inexperienced”. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are no longer in the Test set-up. The top order now relies on Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Padikkal. All are talented. But none has a long record of scoring runs in New Zealand against the moving ball. Trent Boult has warned that the cold weather and green wickets in late October and November will make batting “particularly challenging”.
India vs New Zealand Series: A Look at the Indian Squad
India’s Test squad includes Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj. Rishabh Pant is subject to fitness.
FAQs
Q. Which Indian fast bowlers have returned to India’s Test squad?
A. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep have returned to India’s Test squad.
Q. Why is Rishabh Pant’s selection subject to fitness?
A. Pant suffered a left-side injury during the Irani Cup and must pass a fitness test.
Q. Why was Manav Suthar dropped from India’s Test squad?
A. The selectors believe New Zealand conditions will favour seamers more than spinners.
Q. Why is the New Zealand Test series important for India?
A. India need to win at least six of their remaining seven Tests to stay in contention for the World Test Championship final.
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