The BCCI said Kuldeep Yadav will leave the Test squad to play the Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Uttar Pradesh. Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar replaces him for the two-match Test series against New Zealand starting November 19. Brar will now miss the fifth ODI in Tauranga after joining the Test team.
The BCCI said Kuldeep, who featured in only one of the 10 white-ball matches on the tour, was released to join Uttar Pradesh in the ongoing domestic tournament. Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar, who was part of the ODI squad in the ongoing series, will take his place in the Test team.
Kuldeep did not play any of the five T20Is, which India won 3-2, or the first three ODIs, the third of which was washed out. Brar, 26, has yet to play a Test. Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, has joined the Test group in Wellington after being cleared fit by the BCCI.
“The Men’s Selection Committee has added Gurnoor Brar to the Indian squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, starting November 19, 2026, in Wellington. Kuldeep Yadav will be released from the Test squad to play the ongoing domestic cricket back in India,” a BCCI statement read.
Brar will now miss the fifth ODI of the series, slated to be held in Tauranga on Sunday. At the same venue on Friday, India registered one of their worst performances in one-day cricket as they lost by 244 runs. Chasing a 334-run target, India were bowled out for 89, their second-lowest score in ODIs this century.
In that game, Gurnoor conceded 69 runs in 10 overs, while Kuldeep leaked 73 in eight.