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IND vs NZ: Bumrah and Pant named in India's Test squad, Iyer to lead the last two ODIs

Jasprit Bumrah returns for his first Test since November 2025, Rishabh Pant is in subject to fitness, and Kumar Kushagra earns a maiden call-up for the New Zealand tour.

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India fielders in white surround the batter as a fast bowler delivers during a Test match
India fielders in white surround the batter as a fast bowler delivers during a Test matchPhoto: Dun.can from Leicestershire, UK / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

India have named fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in their squad for the two-Test series in New Zealand, ESPNcricinfo reported on Friday. Pant's place depends on fitness clearance. The first Test starts in Wellington on 19 November.

The IND vs NZ tour starts with five ODIs. Shubman Gill leads in the first three and Shreyas Iyer takes over for the fourth and fifth, when Gill, KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj leave to prepare for the Tests.

Bumrah back for Tests only

Bumrah has not played a Test since November 2025 and is not in the ODI squad. ESPNcricinfo said his workload is being managed so he is fit for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home early next year and the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa. He last played at the Asian Games in Japan, where India won gold.

Pant suffered a side strain in the Irani Cup and missed the first two unofficial Tests against New Zealand A. He is expected to play the third one in Lincoln from 7 to 10 November.

Who is in, who is out

  • In: Akash Deep returns after proving his fitness in the Irani Cup and the Ranji Trophy; Anshul Kamboj returns to the Test side; B Sai Sudharsan is back after a toe injury.
  • Out: left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, despite taking 16 wickets in four innings in Sri Lanka. Ravindra Jadeja is in the Test squad but dropped from the ODIs.
  • New: wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra gets his first India call-up, for the last two ODIs.

Prasidh Krishna is in both squads, subject to fitness; ESPNcricinfo said scans showed a left hamstring strain, not a tear.

India Test squad

Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wk, subject to fitness), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

India ODI squads

First three ODIs: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna (subject to fitness), Kuldeep Yadav.

Fourth and fifth ODIs: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav.

Why it matters here

Pakistan fans will be watching India's pace attack ahead of the 2027 World Cup, and Pakistan's own season starts this weekend with the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England.

Frequently asked questions

When does the India vs New Zealand Test series start?
The first of two Tests starts in Wellington on 19 November 2026, after a five-match ODI series.
Who will captain India in the New Zealand ODIs?
Shubman Gill leads in the first three ODIs and Shreyas Iyer in the fourth and fifth.
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