IND vs NZ: India consider releasing pacer Gurnoor Brar after 4th ODI for Test preparations
New Delhi: The Indian team management is considering releasing fast bowler from the ODI squad to help the side prepare for the two-match Test series against, which will begin on November 19. According to a Times of India (TOI) report, Brar is likely to be released from the team after the fourth ODI, with a final decision likely to be made after Friday’s game in Tauranga.
With New Zealand boasting several tall pacers in their squad, the team management is keen to have Brar with the Test team in Wellington. However, the fast bowler is not part of India’s Test squad but has been asked to stay back.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had confirmed that the support staff would split following the third ODI in Hamilton. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule will stay with the ODI team, while Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel and fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh will join the Test squad.
Captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj left the ODI team for Wellington. Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the final two ODI matches, while Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj are likely to be included in the playing XI for the fourth ODI.
Ishan Kishan is likely to open the batting along with Rohit Sharma, while Gaikwad is likely to bat in the middle order, aiming to make the most of the opportunity. In the bowling department, Siraj is likely to replace in-form Anshul Kamboj.
India’s squad for last two ODIs vs New Zealand
Shreyas Iyer [C], Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan [WK, VC], Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav
India’s Test squad for New Zealand series
Shubman Gill [C], Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul [VC], Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant [WK], Dhruv Jurel [WK], Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.