Kuldeep Yadav released from Test squad; Gurnoor Brar included
Gurnoor will not take part in Sunday's fifth ODI, while Kuldeep will head home after the game to play domestic cricket
India have added fast bowler Gurnoor Brar to their Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against New Zealand, while Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the team, the BCCI announced on Saturday (November 14).
Gurnoor will link up with the Test squad in Wellington and, as a result, will be unavailable for the fifth and final ODI. India have confirmed that no replacement will be named for the decider. Kuldeep, on the other hand, will return to India to feature in domestic cricket following the fifth ODI.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has also joined the Test squad in Wellington. Pant received fitness clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence on November 12 as reported by Cricbuzz, before he flew out to New Zealand.
Gurnoor, who is yet to make his Test debut, has played 13 ODIs for India, picking up 23 wickets. His best figures of 4 for 30 came in the second ODI against New Zealand in Wellington. In 22 first-class matches, he has claimed 71 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls.
Kuldeep, meanwhile, has had a mixed run in his recent appearances for India across formats. He picked up three wickets in the Test against Afghanistan in June before managing just one across two innings in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. More recently, he went wicketless in the fourth ODI against New Zealand, conceding 73 runs in his eight overs.
Gurnoor's inclusion adds to India's pace resources for the Test series, with Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Anshul Kamboj, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj making up the other specialist options, alongside all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Kuldeep's release, meanwhile, leaves India with just two frontline spin options in Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
The first Test against New Zealand begins on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The second game will be played from November 27 in Christchurch.
