Why Gurnoor Brar Is Left Out of India’s Playing 11 Today Despite Leading the Wicket Charts

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first against India in the fifth and final ODI at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, November 15. With India leading the five-match series 2-1, the final match is crucial for both teams. However, India made a few changes to its bowling attack, and the biggest surprise was the absence of Gurnoor Brar from the playing 11.

Despite being India's leading wicket-taker in the ODI series and delivering impressive performances with the new ball, the pacer was left out of the team. His absence came as a surprise to fans, but there is a key reason behind the team management's decision.

Why Gurnoor Brar is Not Playing Today?

One of the tallest cricketers in the world, Gurnoor Brar is neither injured nor dropped on form; instead, the BCCI Men’s Selection Committee has added the 26-year-old fast bowler to India’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match World Test Championship series against New Zealand. With the opening Test set to begin on November 19 in Wellington, Brar has already departed Mount Maunganui to join the red-ball camp and start preparations.

He replaces wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who was released from the Test squad to play domestic cricket back in India. Although the BCCI did not name an external squad replacement for the final ODI, right-arm pacer Yash Thakur has been handed his maiden ODI cap in India’s playing 11 as Gurnoor Brar replacement.

India’s Updated Playing 11 and Bowling Changes for the 5th ODI

Alongside handing a maiden ODI cap to right-arm seamer Yash Thakur in place of Gurnoor Brar, India also brought experienced fast bowler Mohammed Siraj into the lineup for his first appearance of the series, replacing wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

With Axar Patel and Naman Dhir handling spin duties, Shreyas Iyer opted for a four-pronged pace attack featuring Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Auqib Nabi, and debutant Thakur to exploit the Bay Oval conditions.