Gautam Gambhir returns to Test squad after 2 years

The last time Gambhir played a Test was during England tour in 2014. Gambhir has replaced injured KL Rahul for the final two Tests against New Zealand. India beat the visitors by 197 runs in the opening Test at Kanpur. The second Test will be played at Eden Gardens, starting Friday.

Rahul, who scored 32 and 38 in the first Test, sustained a right hamstring injury during India's 500th Test at Kanpur. He was later ruled him out of the remainder series.

"BCCI medical team has confirmed that team India opener, KL Rahul has an injury in his right hamstring and he is ruled out for the remainder of the Paytm Test series against New Zealand," BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke said in a release.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Gautam Gambhir as Rahul's replacement for the next two Test matches," he added.

Pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, who was ruled out of the first Test due to chikungunya, will also miss the second Test at the Eden Gardens. Uncapped Haryana off-spinner Jayant Yadav is set to replace him in the squad.

"Medium pacer Ishant Sharma is recovering and won't be available for the second Test of the series to played in Kolkata," the release said.

"BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor his progress. Off-spinner Jayant Yadav will replace Ishant for the second Test."

Gambhir had appeared for a fitness test at the NCA in Bangalore on Tuesday. The Delhi batsman was impressive in the recent Duleep Trophy, where he scored four back-to-back half-centuries including two 90 plus scores.

India defeated the BlackCaps in the opening Test at Kanpur by 197 runs, thanks to India's spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, who shared 16 out of New Zealand's 20 wickets between them. Ashwin bagged his career's fifth 10-wicket haul.