MUMBAI, Nov 25: India’s leading bowler Anil Kumble has opted out of next month’s two-Test series against New Zealand for personal reasons and was not included in the 16-man squad named Monday.
“Kumble informed us that he will not be available for the Test series due to some personal problem but will be available for the one-dayers,” Karunakaran Nair, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), told reporters.
The 32-year-old leg-spinner is India’s most successful current bowler with 349 wickets in 76 Tests at 27.98 per scalp.
Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan, who had missed the recent seven-match one-day series against West Indies, have been included in the squad after being declared fit by the team doctor.
Tendulkar had a hamstring injury while Zaheer was resting his troublesome knee.