The New Zealand National Cricket Team is set to add a bunch of players to its Test squad against India after injury concerns. In a major development, fast bowler Jacob Duffy is set to join the Test squad after the ongoing 5-match ODI series concludes.

Ahead of the Tests, starting on November 19 in Wellington, multiple first-team players are uncertain because of injury concerns. Batters like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway and Tom Blundell were uncertain because of their fitness-related issues. However, all of them will be available for the home Test series against India.

Multiple injury concerns for New Zealand ahead of India Tests

The Tests against India will mark a fresh summer for the New Zealand cricket team. When they faced the Men in Blue in India for Tests, they were unstoppable, handing over a whitewash to the home team.

New Zealand completed a historic 3-0 Test series whitewash against India in November 2024, marking the Men in Blue's first-ever 3-0 clean sweep defeat on home soil and their first home series loss in 12 years. Conway, Ravindra, and Blundell played a crucial role in that Test series in India. With their presence, the Blackcaps' batting power will be bolstered in their next two matches in the Whites.

Jacob Duffy marks his return in Test squad

Still, the squad led by Tom Latham will miss several other star performers in the Test series. Ben Sears, Zak Foulkes, and Will O'Rourke are set to miss it due to injury concerns. Sears and Foulkes will miss the matches due to ankle and hip injuries, respectively, while O'Rourke is yet to prove his fitness in the rehabilitation programme.

As multiple pace bowlers will miss both of the Tests against India, the New Zealand cricket board has included Jacob Duffy in their squad. Jacob Duffy's previous Test match was against the West Indies at Mount Maunganui in December, 2025.

Confirming the developments around the squad, New Zealand National Cricket Team head coach Rob Walter told the reporters that World Test Championship points will be on the line, but their sole focus will be on their performance against a high-quality team like India.

Focus will be on India: Rob Walter, New Zealand's head coach

"This series marks the start of an exciting summer of Test cricket for the BLACKCAPS. The squad is largely consistent with the team that competed in England earlier this year, so it'll be great to be back together to try and recreate some of that success on home soil," said head coach Rob Walter.

"There are ten Tests scheduled between now and March, so there’s no shortage of action for red-ball fans. Valuable Championship points are on the line,e of course, but our focus remains on playing our best cricket against a high-quality team like India," added Walter.

New Zealand Test squad for India series:

Tom Latham (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young.