The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, with the return of leadership duo Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer headlining the selection. The squad, announced on Saturday, January 3, 2026, saw no major surprises but reinforced the selectors' faith in the established core, particularly wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.
Leadership Core Returns, Performers Make Way
Captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer have reclaimed their spots after missing the previous ODI series against South Africa due to injuries. Their return, however, meant tough exits for players who impressed in their absence. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored a century batting at number four against South Africa, was dropped. Similarly, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel made way as the selectors continued with Rishabh Pant.
Iyer's inclusion comes with a caveat; his availability is subject to a fitness clearance. The middle-order batsman is scheduled to play for Mumbai in the next two rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy to prove his match readiness.
The most notable omission, despite a blistering performance, was all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pandya, playing for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Saturday, smashed a sensational 34 runs in one over, hitting six sixes and a four to race from 66 to 100. Despite this fireworks display, he was left out due to workload management. The BCCI stated that Pandya has not been cleared by the Cricket Operations Executive (COE) to bowl a full quota of 10 overs in a match. With the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on the horizon, the board is managing his exertions carefully.
Selector's Faith in Pant and Pace Reshuffle
The decision to retain Rishabh Pant underscores the selection committee's long-term vision. Despite Pant waiting in the wings for over a year and facing challenges in shorter formats, the panel was unanimous in his continuation. The selectors view him as a like-for-like replacement for KL Rahul in the lower middle-order and value his left-handed batting option in a right-hand heavy lineup.
This choice also meant there was no room for Ishan Kishan, whose recent T20 World Cup selection and form had sparked discussion. Including Kishan would have further crowded the top order and left no space for backup opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.
In the bowling department, experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj returns to lead the attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Siraj, who hasn't played white-ball cricket since the tour of Australia, replaces backup batsman Tilak Varma. His inclusion provides cushioning after other pace options, barring Arshdeep Singh, struggled on flat decks against South Africa.
Conservative Approach with an Eye on the Future
The selection philosophy for this series appears conservative, prioritizing the return of the established leadership hierarchy over recent individual performances. The selectors have also maintained their recent policy of picking only one between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, opting for the former. Washington Sundar is the other all-round option.
This approach is partly influenced by the ODI calendar. India does not have another ODI series until their tour of England in July 2026. With no immediate fixtures following the New Zealand contest, the panel saw no urgent need for radical changes, choosing instead to back the core group expected to lead the team in the coming years.
The three-match ODI series against New Zealand begins in Vadodara on January 11, 2026, followed by matches in Rajkot (January 14) and Indore (January 18).
India's ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer* (Vice-Captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal. (*Subject to fitness clearance).
