The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series vs New Zealand scheduled to start on January 11, 2026 at home. The announcement marks a significant reshuffle in Team India’s ODI lineup, combining experience, workload management and the return of key players in preparation for the busy international season that includes the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup beginning in February.
Table of Contents
Series Details: India vs New Zealand ODIs 2026
The three ODIs will be played as follows:
1st ODI: January 11, Vadodara
2nd ODI: January 14, Rajkot
3rd ODI: January 18, Indore
This series is India’s first ODI assignment of the calendar year, serving as crucial match practice before the T20 World Cup later this season.
Shubman Gill to Lead, Shreyas Iyer Back as Vice-Captain
The BCCI has named Shubman Gill as captain of the ODI side for this series, marking his return to the role after injury setbacks that kept him out of the recent South Africa ODIs. Gill has been in decent form and brings youthful energy combined with tactical acumen.
In a significant development, Shreyas Iyer has been included as the team’s vice-captain, subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE). Iyer had been sidelined since October 2025 following a spleen injury sustained during the ODI tour of Australia and has been working on his recovery. He is expected to prove his match fitness in domestic cricket — particularly in the Vijay Hazare Trophy — before being officially cleared for action in this series.
Iyer’s inclusion as vice-captain reflects the selectors’ confidence in his leadership and experience in the 50-over format, as well as his ability to stabilise the middle order.
Bumrah & Pandya Rested Ahead of T20 World Cup
Two of India’s biggest white-ball stars — Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya — have been rested from the ODI series as part of a broader workload management strategy leading up to the T20 World Cup 2026. The BCCI’s official stance is that managing the fitness of premier players is essential ahead of a major global tournament.
Hardik Pandya, in particular, has not yet been cleared by the COE to bowl his full quota of 10 overs, which influenced the decision to keep him out of this series. His all-round presence will instead be preserved for the shorter format where India will rely on him heavily.
Similarly, Bumrah — who has been India’s spearhead in limited-overs cricket — has been given a break from ODI duties. This rest is likely to help him remain fresh for the World Cup campaign.
Mohammed Siraj Returns to the ODI Lineup
Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj makes his return to the ODI setup after missing the home series against South Africa. Siraj last appeared in ODI cricket during India’s tour of Australia and has since been active in domestic competitions such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. His inclusion strengthens India’s pace attack alongside younger bowlers.
Full India ODI Squad vs New Zealand (15-Member)
The squad announced by the BCCI for the New Zealand ODI series is:
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
Yashasvi Jaiswal
(*Subject to fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence)
Notable Omissions and Selection Decisions
Hardik Pandya & Jasprit Bumrah Omitted
As noted above, both Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah have not been named in the squad to ensure they are fresh and fit for India’s T20 World Cup campaign. This creates opportunities for players like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana to make an impact on the international stage.
Rishabh Pant Retained
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant retains his place in the squad, showing continued faith in his abilities despite recent competition for the position.
Omission of Mohammad Shami
Veteran pacer Mohammad Shami has been left out of the squad, a decision that has sparked some debate among cricket observers. His exclusion could be linked to workload considerations or strategic selection decisions by the BCCI and selectors.
Dropped Players from Previous Series
Several players who featured in the South Africa ODI series — such as Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel and Ruturaj Gaikwad — have not been retained in this squad, making room for returning senior players and tactical picks.
Context: Preparation for the T20 World Cup
The India vs New Zealand ODI series occurs just weeks before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7, 2026. India’s team management clearly views this ODI series as both a competitive challenge and a means to manage player fitness and form ahead of the T20 World Cup. Resting key players like Pandya and Bumrah reflects an intent to peak in late T20 action, while the inclusion of senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill ensures the ODI side maintains experience and stability.
Squad Balance and Strategic Depth
The selected squad shows a balance of batting strength, spin bowling options and pace variety:
Batting: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal form a top-to-middle order with both power and consistency.
Wicketkeeping: KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant offer dual keeping alternatives coupled with batting depth.
Spin Attack: Jadeja, Kuldeep and Washington Sundar offer experience and variety in spin conditions.
Pace Unit: Siraj leads the pace attack with support from Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and emerging pacer Harshit Rana.
All-Round Options: Nitish Kumar Reddy provides a seam-bowling all-round option alongside Jadeja’s utility with bat and ball.
Expectations and Fan Reaction
The announcement has been met with widespread discussion among fans and pundits. There is excitement about the return of senior leaders like Gill and Iyer, but also curiosity about how the team will perform without stalwarts like Bumrah and Pandya. Fans have taken to social platforms to voice their views on selections, omissions and tactical strategy for the series. Reactions range from strong support for youth inclusion to debate over key players’ exclusion ahead of a packed cricket calendar.
Conclusion
India’s ODI squad announcement for the New Zealand series reflects the BCCI’s careful planning and forward-thinking, balancing immediate competitiveness with long-term workload management. The return of Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain (pending fitness) and Mohammed Siraj’s comeback strengthen India’s lineup, while resting Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah underscores the emphasis on preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026. As the series gets underway on January 11, cricket fans will closely monitor performances, team combinations and how India blends experience with youth in this exciting white-ball contest.
