After a gap of two years, India opening batsmen Gautam Gambhir is returning to the Test team after playing his last Test back in 2014. He will replace injured KL Rahul for the remaining part of the New Zealand series. The second Test between India and New Zealand begins on Friday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Rahul was ruled out of the remainder of the Test series due to a right hamstring injury that he sustained during the first Test in Kanpur, while running between the wickets.

“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.

Off-spinner Jayant Yadav has also been asked to join the squad in place of Ishant Sharma, who is suffering from chikungunya and will be out of the second Test. Jayant is yet to make his debut for India in Tests. The BCCI in a release said they will continue to monitor Ishant’s health.