Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant have been named in India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand, starting with the opening fixture in Wellington on November 19. While Bumrah will skip the preceding ODI leg to manage his workload, he returns to lead the fast-bowling attack in the longest format for the first time since November 2025. Pant’s inclusion in the touring party remains strictly subject to a final fitness clearance following a recent side strain.
The selection committee, alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir, has carefully planned Bumrah’s return to keep him fresh for the high-profile home series against Australia and the upcoming global 50-over tournament. Pant sustained his injury while leading the Rest of India in the Irani Cup, forcing him to miss early unofficial fixtures against New Zealand A, though he is expected to feature in the third unofficial Test in Lincoln.
Squad Selection and Workload Management
- Jasprit Bumrah returns to lead the Test attack after a year-long absence from the format.
- Rishabh Pant is included in the Test squad subject to passing fitness assessments.
- Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep bolster the fast bowling options following strong domestic performances.
- Shubman Gill will captain the Test side and the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer taking over ODI captaincy for the final two matches.
Upcoming Fixtures and Team Composition
India’s tour features a three-match ODI series before the two-match Test campaign begins in Wellington. Regular skipper Shubman Gill will lead the side for the first three one-day internationals before shifting focus to red-ball preparations alongside KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj. Shreyas Iyer will assume captaincy duties for the final two ODIs, providing an opportunity to test squad depth. Spin-bowling responsibilities in the Test matches will be spearheaded by Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav, with Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy rounding out a balanced touring squad.
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