India’s selectors have sealed the New Zealand tour lineup, naming Jasprit Bumrah to feature in 4 Tests—his first series in the country since 2024.
The four‑hour delay caused by Prasidh Krishna’s fitness report forced interim chief selector Pragyan Ojha to push the meeting to Monday night, but the panel was back in action with the agenda set: T20I, ODI, Test and India A squads, all kicking off on October 22.
Bumrah’s inclusion hinges on a light workload before Wellington—he’s slated to bowl a few overs in the India A series to keep his rhythm sharp. Alongside him, Test regulars Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are expected to play at least one A fixture, ensuring they’re match‑fit for the longer format.
The spin question looms: Washington Sundar’s return leaves Jadeja likely to stay, but the selectors are weighing Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy and a young spinner for the squad. For pace, Siraj, Prasidh, Gurnoor Brar, Akash Deep and Auqib Nabi are in contention, with the panel favouring the first four—but an injury could open a slot for Nabi or Mukesh Kumar.
On the ODI side, the depth test continues as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy could be sidelined, pushing selectors to reward domestic and A circuit performers like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Kushagra, Naman Dhir and Mayank Yadav. With the squad confirmed, India now faces the challenge of blending experience and youth across formats as the team gears up for the first Test in Wellington on October 24.