India Announces ODI Squad for New Zealand Series: Gill to Lead, Rohit-Kohli Return; Bumrah & Hardik Rested
Shreyas Iyer named vice-captain subject to fitness clearance; Mohammed Siraj makes comeback as pace duo rested for workload management
NEW DELHI, January 3, 2026 – The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, marking India’s first international assignment of 2026. The series begins January 11 in Vadodara, with Shubman Gill returning as captain and senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli making their comeback to the ODI setup.
Key Squad Selections
Captain & Leadership: Shubman Gill will captain the side, with Shreyas Iyer appointed vice-captain subject to fitness clearance. Iyer is currently completing rehabilitation from a spleen injury sustained during the Australia series in October 2025 and will need final approval from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before joining the squad.
Senior Players Return: Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to international cricket after their dominant performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where both scored centuries to maintain match fitness. This marks their first ODI appearance since India’s tour of South Africa in November.
Wicketkeeping Options: KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are the wicketkeeping options. Pant’s inclusion comes after limited ODI action since his return from injury, with his last ODI appearance in August 2024 against Sri Lanka.
Notable Omissions & Rest Policy
Workload Management: Hardik Pandya has not yet received clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to bowl a full 10-over spell in an ODI. With the T20 World Cup scheduled to begin February 7, selectors have opted to manage his workload carefully to prevent injury risk.
Jasprit Bumrah has also been rested as part of strategic workload management, with the busy T20 calendar and World Cup taking priority for the pace spearhead.
Mohammed Shami: Despite strong performances in domestic cricket, Mohammed Shami has not been included in the squad. The veteran pacer continues his return from injury but hasn’t received the final clearance for international action.
Complete Squad
India’s ODI Squad for New Zealand Series: 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 from BCCI Centre of Excellence
Series Schedule
The three-match ODI series will be played across eight days:
1st ODI: January 11, 2026 – BCA Stadium, Vadodara (1:30 PM IST) This will be a historic occasion as Vadodara hosts its first-ever men’s international cricket match.
2nd ODI: January 14, 2026 – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot (1:30 PM IST)
3rd ODI: January 18, 2026 – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore (1:30 PM IST)
Squad Analysis
Pace Attack: With Bumrah rested, the pace department will be led by Mohammed Siraj, who returns after missing recent series. He will be supported by Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh, providing a blend of experience and youth.
Spin Options: India has a strong spin arsenal with Kuldeep Yadav leading the specialist spinners, backed by the all-round abilities of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
Batting Depth: The squad boasts exceptional batting depth with Rohit, Kohli, and Gill forming the top order, supported by the explosive Yashasvi Jaiswal. The middle order features versatile options in Rahul, Pant, and the all-rounders.
Looking Ahead
This series serves as crucial preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, which India will co-host with Sri Lanka starting February 7. The selectors have balanced the need for match practice with workload management, particularly for all-format players like Bumrah and Pandya.
Following the ODI series, India will face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series beginning January 21 in Nagpur. The T20I squad, already announced, will be led by Suryakumar Yadav and features Ishan Kishan, who missed the ODI selection.
New Zealand Squad
Michael Bracewell will captain New Zealand’s ODI side, with key players including Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips. The visitors have rested several T20 specialists including Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry, who will feature only in the T20I series as part of World Cup preparations.
