Ishan Kishan is in the frame for a place in India’s Test squad for the two-match series in New Zealand in late November, with the national selection committee expected to convene shortly to confirm the touring party. His inclusion is far from guaranteed, but selectors are expected to give his recent red-ball form serious consideration.
Kishan’s Duleep Trophy campaign has driven the conversation. Captaining East Zone in the final against South Zone, he struck 270 and 80 to steer his side to the title. Across three matches in the tournament, he accumulated 409 runs at an average exceeding 100 and was named Player of the Match in the final. In white-ball cricket, he has been equally prolific, topping India’s T20I run charts in 2026 with 1,005 runs.
The wicketkeeping department is where the debate becomes complicated. Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel both appeared in India’s previous five Tests and acquitted themselves well, so finding room for a third gloveman in the squad is a question selectors will need to answer carefully.
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Why is Ishan Kishan’s Test case being taken seriously?
Kishan has only two Test caps to his name, with his most recent appearance coming well over three years ago. Despite that gap, there is a clear line of thinking within the team management that his current form warrants a red-ball recall. His Duleep Trophy numbers have restored confidence in his ability at that level, and the view among certain stakeholders is that performances of that quality cannot simply be set aside.
One factor that could work in his favour is the manner in which he is typically deployed in white-ball cricket. Kishan tends to bat as a specialist top-order batter rather than filling a wicketkeeper-batter slot in limited-overs sides, which means selectors could potentially consider him in a similar capacity for the Test format, easing the concern about carrying three glovemen.
Who else is in contention for the New Zealand Tests?
The pace bowling group offers the selectors a wealth of options. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Gurnoor Brar are widely regarded as certainties, while Prasidh Krishna’s availability is also said to be improving. Akash Deep is considered particularly well-suited to New Zealand conditions, and Mukesh Kumar has strengthened his case through consistent performances across formats.
Mukesh, a Bengal seamer, took 12 wickets across three Duleep Trophy games for East Zone and also played a decisive role in guiding Rest of India to victory in the recently concluded Irani Cup. Harshit Rana has resumed bowling at the Centre of Excellence, though his precise fitness status has not been confirmed. The bulk of the players who represented India on the England tour under Shubman Gill are expected to be in contention again, injuries permitting.
