On October 16, 2026, the BCCI announced a 16-man squad for the two-Test series in New Zealand. Rishabh Pant was named, pending fitness clearance, after suffering a side strain during the Irani Cup, while Jasprit Bumrah, Anshul Kamboj, and Akash Deep were brought back.
The most important choice made for this squad is Bumrah’s return. The pace leader last played during India’s tour of South Africa in late 2025, and he hasn’t played in a single Test since. The Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi, who filled in for Bumrah during the Sri Lanka Tests, has not been retained for this assignment.
With KL Rahul serving as vise captain, Shubman Gill remains captain. Four days after the fifth and final ODI at Mount Maunganui on November 15, the first Test takes place at Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington from November 19 to 23. The second Test takes place from November 27 to December 1, 2026, at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav are the only players shared by both teams in the BCCI’s separate squad for the tour’s final two ODIs.
There is a requirement for Pant’s status in the squad. Before he can participate in the series, the wicketkeeper-batter must receive approval from the BCCI medical team due to a side strain he sustained during the Irani Cup. In the event that Pant does not pass fit in time, Dhruv Jurel, the second wicketkeeper, is scheduled to start.
Washington Sundar, who missed both matches in Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury, is also back in the Test squad. He gives India three specialist spin options as they get ready for conditions in New Zealand, along with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
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During India’s tour of England in 2025, Akash Deep made his most recent Test appearance. His selection here suggests that the BCCI medical staff is pleased with his recuperation after he later suffered a lower-back injury that prevented him from playing in the IPL. This squad marks Kamboj’s first return to the format since that England tour, where he played his only Test to date before being left out.
Back in the group is Nitish Kumar Reddy, who last played in a Test match against South Africa in 2025. Additionally included is Sai Sudharsan, who missed the Sri Lanka tour due to a toe injury. Devdutt Padikkal remains in the squad after scoring two hundreds while batting at number three during the Sri Lanka series.
India full squad for New Zealand Tests 2026
Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (WK)* [subject to fitness clearance], Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
