Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant have been named to India’s Test team for the forthcoming two-match series in New Zealand. Pant’s participation in the series is dependent on fitness clearance.
Jasprit Bumrah will not be in the ODI team, but he will return to head the attack in the Test series, which starts on November 19 in Wellington. He hasn’t played a Test match since November 2025.
As part of the broad plans outlined earlier this year by India’s think tank, which includes selectors and Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, Bumrah’s workload will be managed to ensure he is fit to play the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home early next year and the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be held in Africa in October-November of that year.
Bumrah last competed at the Asian Games in Japan, when India won the gold medal.
He is now undertaking routine training at home in Ahmedabad and is scheduled to visit the BCCI’s Center of Excellence in Bengaluru for fitness drills before traveling to New Zealand.
Pant experienced a side injury while captaining the Rest of India in the recent Irani Cup, where he played a sweep in the opening innings. He was eventually ruled out of the first two unofficial Tests against New Zealand A. He is expected to play the third unofficial Test in Lincoln on November 7-10. Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Anshul Kamboj are also expected to play the third unofficial Test.
Prasidh Krishna was selected for India’s Test team, however his participation in the previous ODI series is contingent on fitness clearance.
According to Cricinfo, Prasidh’s MRI revealed a strain in his left hamstring rather than a tear. The quick bowler has spent the last two weeks working on strength and conditioning (S&C) and recuperation, as well as massages and mobility drills. He was named to the ODI team for only the first three games.
Akash Deep was reinstated in India’s Test team after demonstrating his form and fitness in the Irani Cup and, more recently, in the first round of the Ranji Trophy for Bengal. Kamboj also returned to the Test squad, having made his debut in Manchester in July 2025. Mohammed Siraj and seam-bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will add depth to the assault.
There was no room for Manav Suthar, who claimed a record 16 wickets in four innings in Sri Lanka. For the New Zealand Test trip, India selected two spin-bowling allrounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, to join Kuldeep Yadav.
After missing the Test series in Sri Lanka due to a toe injury, B Sai Sudharsan returned to the squad, possibly as a backup hitter. He has lately returned to action, playing a four-day and one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry.
