The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand on Saturday, January 3, 2026, with Shubman Gill named captain and Shreyas Iyer returning as vice-captain, subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE). The squad includes key senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, alongside wicketkeepers KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, despite prior speculation about Pant's potential omission. Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who has shown strong form in domestic cricket, including the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, was notably snubbed once again, while Mohammed Siraj makes a return to the white-ball setup. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are rested as part of workload management ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
The full squad comprises Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. (*Shreyas Iyer’s availability is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE.) Iyer, recovering from a spleen laceration sustained during India's ODI series in Australia in November 2025, has completed one return-to-play simulation and is set to feature in Mumbai's Vijay Hazare Trophy match on January 6 as a final test before potential clearance. The inclusion of Pant, who last played an ODI in 2024, addresses ongoing debates about wicketkeeping options, with Rahul as the primary choice.
The series, marking India's first home white-ball assignment of 2026, begins on January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, followed by the second ODI on January 14 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, and the finale on January 18 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. All matches start at 1:30 PM IST. This ODI leg precedes a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, serving as a crucial dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup starting February 7. The selections reflect a blend of experience and youth, with emerging talents like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana gaining opportunities amid rests for key pacers, while highlighting the BCCI's focus on long-term planning for future ICC events.
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The announcement has sparked discussions on domestic performers' rewards, with Shami's continued exclusion drawing criticism despite his recent wickets in List A cricket. As the team prepares to assemble in Vadodara by January 7, the series offers a platform to fine-tune combinations in the 50-over format, which has seen mixed results for India in recent tours. Fans can follow the action live on Star Sports networks, with streaming available on JioHotstar.
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