Mukesh Kumar's standout performance in the 2026-27 Irani Cup has firmly placed him in India's selection plans for the upcoming two-match Test series in New Zealand.
Representing the Rest of India cricket team, the 32-year-old pacer claimed a decisive eight-wicket match haul (including a stunning 6 for 33 in the final innings) to secure a 167-run comeback victory over Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar.
According to a Cricbuzz report, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management have closely tracked his domestic red-ball form. Mukesh has now taken 19 wickets in his last four domestic multi-day matches, making him a strong front-runner alongside his Bengal teammate, Akash Deep, to join frontline pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj for the Test leg of the New Zealand tour.
The report stated that Gambhir also monitored Akash’s spell in the Irani Cup, and the coach is expected to pass his inputs on to the four-member selection committee led by Pragyan Ojha. Akash picked up six wickets in the match.
Rookie pacer Gurnoor Brar is likely to be part of the pace unit as well. Prasidh Krishna’s recent hamstring injury is not considered serious enough to rule him out of the New Zealand tour, the report claimed.
The Karnataka fast bowler suffered a hamstring strain on September 30 during the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati, forcing him to sit out of the third match where he was replaced by debutant Anshul Kamboj. He has since been sent to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for assessments and scans.
Krishna's final inclusion in the squad strictly hinges on receiving official medical and fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence (CoE).
India’s tour of New Zealand is a long 45-day assignment featuring five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Test matches. Because the red-ball Test leg takes place toward the end of the tour, the team management is highly optimistic that Krishna will recover in time for the longest format, even if the initial white-ball fixtures come too soon.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
