India have made one change to their Test squad before the two-match series in New Zealand. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released, and the uncapped seamer Gurnoor Brar takes his place. The BCCI says Kuldeep is going home to play in the domestic season that is already under way in India.
The first Test begins at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on 19 November. The second starts in Christchurch on 27 November. For Indian viewers both games begin at 3:30 am IST, so plan on early alarms.
Why Brar, and why now
Brar, 26, has been India’s most dangerous bowler on this tour. According to the ICC, his nine wickets have taken him to the top of the wicket-takers’ list in the ODI series. His first-class record is just as strong: 71 wickets from 22 matches. He has been a regular for India A, which is where selectors usually look before giving someone a Test cap.
He also suits the conditions. Wellington and Christchurch normally give seamers bounce and some movement off the pitch. A seamer who has already spent three weeks bowling on New Zealand pitches is a better fit there than a second wrist-spinner. Brar will miss the fifth ODI at Mount Maunganui and travel straight to Wellington to join the Test group.
What it means for the spin options
Without Kuldeep, India’s spin is left to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Both are all-rounders, so the balance of the side barely changes. Kuldeep has 80 wickets in 19 Tests, so he is a big loss on paper. But even at full strength, India rarely play two spinners in New Zealand.
Pant cleared to play
The other good news concerns Rishabh Pant. He was named in the original squad on the condition that he proved his fitness. He had spent several weeks recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and missed the India A tour. He has now been declared fit and has joined the squad in Wellington. Dhruv Jurel stays as the reserve wicketkeeper.
India’s updated Test squad
Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar.
The bigger picture
There are World Test Championship points at stake, and the ICC currently lists India fourth in the standings. Bumrah is back after missing the Sri Lanka series. He leads a seam attack with Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh and now Brar, which gives India one of their deepest pace groups on a New Zealand tour.
The tricky choice is the final seamer. Kamboj and Nitish Kumar Reddy give the side batting depth. Brar gives it the in-form bowler. Expect Gill and the team management to hold off until they have had a proper look at the Basin Reserve pitch.
We will have a full preview of the first Test, including likely XIs and pitch notes, before the toss on 19 November.
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