New Delhi, January 3, 2026 – The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Senior Men’s Selection Committee has officially announced the 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand.
The series, which serves as a vital component of India’s home season, will see Shubman Gill returning to lead the side. Veteran superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been included, reinforcing the top order after their impressive stints in domestic cricket.
Key Selection Highlights
- Captaincy & Leadership: Shubman Gill takes the reins as captain. Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain, though his participation is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) following a recent injury.
- The Wicketkeeping Duo: Contrary to rumors of a potential exclusion, Rishabh Pant has retained his spot in the squad. He will share wicketkeeping duties with KL Rahul.
- Hardik Pandya & Jasprit Bumrah Absent: Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was not considered for selection as he has yet to be cleared by the COE to bowl a full 10-over quota. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested to manage his workload ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- Bowling Returns: The pace attack sees the return of Mohammed Siraj. He will be joined by young sensations Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will lead the spin department.
- Notable Omissions: Despite strong domestic form, there was no place for Mohammed Shami, Ruturaj Gaikwad, or Devdutt Padikkal in the final 15.
India’s ODI Squad for New Zealand Series
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (VC) (Subject to fitness), KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna
Series Schedule
The three-match series will be played across three different venues starting January 11, 2026.
- 1st ODI: January 11 – BCA Stadium, Vadodara
- 2nd ODI: January 14 – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
- 3rd ODI: January 18 – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
All matches are scheduled to start at 1:30 PM IST. Following the ODI leg, India is set to play a five-match T20I series against the Black Caps as part of the final preparations for the T20 World Cup.
