The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a change to India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. The decision comes just days before the opening Test, which is scheduled to begin on November 19 in Wellington.
The latest update also brings positive news for the Indian team, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant joining the squad after recovering from an injury. Meanwhile, the selection committee has confirmed an addition to the Test squad following another player’s release.
Kuldeep Yadav released from India’s Test squad
The BCCI has confirmed that Kuldeep Yadav has been released from India’s Test squad to participate in ongoing domestic cricket. The left-arm wrist-spinner will therefore not be part of the group preparing for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. His release comes as the team continues its preparations for the important red-ball assignment.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has been added to the squad and will join the Indian team in Wellington. However, he will miss the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand on November 15. The BCCI has also confirmed that no replacement will be named for the ODI squad, leaving the existing group unchanged for the series finale.
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Rishabh Pant joins Indian squad in Wellington after fitness clearance
Pant has joined the Indian Test squad after receiving fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team. He had sustained a side strain during the Irani Cup in Srinagar, held from October 1 to 4, where he captained the Rest of India side. Although he was initially named in India’s Test squad for the New Zealand tour and the India A squad for the four-day matches against New Zealand A, his participation was subject to fitness clearance.
He missed the first two four-day matches against New Zealand A and was initially expected to feature in the third fixture from November 7 to 10. However, his rehabilitation was extended after the medical team decided that he needed additional time at the Centre of Excellence for his fitness assessment. His arrival in Wellington now provides a boost to India’s preparations for the Test series.
India’s updated Test squad: 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.
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