Kumar Kushagra, Yash Thakur earn maiden ODI call-ups for New Zealand tour
toi
newspoint|17-10-2026
Mumbai: Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, sidelined by a left hamstring injury sustained during the home ODI series against West Indies, has been picked for the first three ODIs and the subsequent two-Test series in New Zealand, subject to fitness clearance. The injury is understood to be minor.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who missed the India A tour of New Zealand due to a side strain and back stiffness sustained during the Irani Cup, has also been included in the Test squad, subject to fitness clearance.
ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer will lead the side in the final two matches of the five-game series, allowing regular skipper Shubman Gill to focus on the Tests. As part of the selectors’ split-squad strategy, left-handed batter Tilak Varma and Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi have been drafted in for the last two ODIs.
Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra , recently named as Pant’s replacement in the India A squad for the New Zealand tour , and fast bowler Yash Thakur have received maiden ODI call-ups . Ishan Kishan will serve as vice-captain for the final two matches.
Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from the ODI series but will lead the pace attack in the Tests, which begin in Wellington on Nov 19.
Seamer Anshul Kamboj, who played one Test in Manchester during the 2025 England tour before being dropped, has been recalled to the Test squad and the squad for the first three ODIs. His selection suggests the selectors continue to view him as a seam-bowling allrounder at No. 8.
Akash Deep has also returned to the Test squad after being sidelined for seven months with a stress fracture. He last played a Test during the 2025 England series.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who missed the India A tour of New Zealand due to a side strain and back stiffness sustained during the Irani Cup, has also been included in the Test squad, subject to fitness clearance.
ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer will lead the side in the final two matches of the five-game series, allowing regular skipper Shubman Gill to focus on the Tests. As part of the selectors’ split-squad strategy, left-handed batter Tilak Varma and Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi have been drafted in for the last two ODIs.
Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra , recently named as Pant’s replacement in the India A squad for the New Zealand tour , and fast bowler Yash Thakur have received maiden ODI call-ups . Ishan Kishan will serve as vice-captain for the final two matches.
Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from the ODI series but will lead the pace attack in the Tests, which begin in Wellington on Nov 19.
Seamer Anshul Kamboj, who played one Test in Manchester during the 2025 England tour before being dropped, has been recalled to the Test squad and the squad for the first three ODIs. His selection suggests the selectors continue to view him as a seam-bowling allrounder at No. 8.
Akash Deep has also returned to the Test squad after being sidelined for seven months with a stress fracture. He last played a Test during the 2025 England series.
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