Top 3 Indian pacers to watch out for in NZ vs IND Test series

India are scheduled to travel to New Zealand for a two-match Test series beginning November 19, 2026. The tour also includes a five-match ODI leg running from November 4 to November 15.

Reports indicate that the team management is keen to field five fast bowlers for the Test leg of the tour. The reported shortlist of five pacers comprises Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and Akash Deep, though the final squad is yet to be announced.

Here are three Indian pacers to watch out for in New Zealand Test series:

1. Auqib Nabi

Auqib Nabi had a historic 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, finishing as the competition's top wicket-taker. He claimed 60 wickets at an average of 12.56 while representing Jammu and Kashmir, a performance that drew widespread attention to his ability to swing the new ball.

Nabi was named in India's squad for the away Test series against Sri Lanka but did not feature in any of the matches. Surrey signed him for County Championship fixtures to give him experience in seam-friendly conditions, and the BCCI identified him as a potential candidate for the New Zealand tour, reportedly wanting him to gain playing time in similar conditions before the series. However, recent reports suggest he has not made the cut for the New Zealand Tests, with Siraj and Krishna preferred ahead of him.

2. Gurnoor Brar

Gurnoor Brar is a right-arm fast bowler from Punjab who stands 6 ft 4.5 in tall and was born on May 25, 2000. His height gives him the ability to extract steep bounce, a quality that national selectors have taken note of.

Brar was part of India's squad for the Sri Lanka Test series but did not make his Test debut. He was included in the North Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy semi-final. He took three wickets in the Sri Lanka A warm-up fixture and claimed five wickets against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final. Selectors are keen to give him as many red-ball opportunities as possible ahead of the New Zealand series, and he features in the reported five-pacer shortlist for the tour.

3. Akash Deep

Akash Deep impressed during India's tour of England and carried that form into the domestic season. In his last four Ranji Trophy matches of the previous season, he took 18 wickets, underlining his consistency with the red ball in conditions that reward seam and swing bowling.

Akash Deep is part of the reported five-pacer shortlist for the New Zealand Test series. His recent performances in both international and domestic cricket make him one of the more established names among the pace options available to the selectors. The New Zealand series will be a key assignment for India's pace attack, and Deep's experience could prove valuable on pitches that typically assist fast bowling.