India Vs New Zealand 2026 ODI Squad Announcement Highlights: Gill and Iyer return to India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series, with Iyer’s inclusion pending fitness clearance.
India Vs New Zealand ODI Squad Announcement Highlights:
Captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer returned to India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), though, said Iyer’s participation in the series was subject to fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence (CoE).
Fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj also returned to the ODI set-up after missing out against South Africa at home. The three players’ return meant exits for Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Dhruv Jurel.
The series will start on January 11 with the first ODI in Vadodara. The next two matches will be played in Rajkot and Indore on January 14 and 18, respectively.
The contest will also see the return of batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international action. The pair was last seen in action in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, where they scored sparkling centuries to light up the domestic tournament.
India’s squad for New Zealand ODIs:
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Full Tour Schedule
| New Zealand’s Tour of India, 2026 (ODI Series) | ||||
| Sr. No. | Day | Date | Match | Venue |
| 1 | Sunday | 11th January | 1st ODI | Vadodara |
| 2 | Wednesday | 14th January | 2nd ODI | Rajkot |
| 3 | Sunday | 18th January | 3rd ODI | Indore |
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Hardik Pandya Rested!
The BCCI COE has not cleared Hardik Pandya to bowl 10 overs in a match, and considering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: SQUAD’S OUT!
BCCI has picked India’s squad for the upcoming IDFC First Bank three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting 11th January at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara.
India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
Note: *Shreyas Iyer’s availability is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Deep Dasgupta On Pant’s Selection Chances
“My only fear is a repeat of 2019, when you didn’t prepare backups in the middle order. Pant can still serve for another seven to eight years. If they feel they can maximise his potential, they must start working with him. He has been part of the system since 2018. If not, they must identify a definite second wicketkeeper — and not keep changing without giving the player a full run, because there aren’t many ODIs before the World Cup,” former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta stated.
“I won’t judge him by the runs. He hasn’t played the 50-over format for nearly three-and-a-half years. Before his accident, he had started finding his feet in ODIs. It’s about how much you want to back him,” he further added.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Samson on Fire with a Stunning 100
Sanju Samson sent a strong message ahead of team announcements, blasting a 90-ball hundred for Kerala in their Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Jharkhand.
Samson’s knock has put Kerala in a commanding position chasing 212.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Hardik Pandya Steals the Show in VHT
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, likely to be rested for the upcoming New Zealand ODI series, smashed his maiden List A hundred for Baroda against Vidarbha, reaching the milestone in just 68 deliveries.
A spectacular knock!
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Fresh Trouble for Shubman Gill
Star India batter Shubman Gill, who was slated to turn out for Punjab in a Vijay Hazare Trophy game on Saturday, January 3, didn’t feature in the playing XI, with reports later attributing his absence to food poisoning.
It remains unclear whether the setback will affect Gill’s selection for the ODI series against New Zealand, though it shouldn’t.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Squad Reveal All Set for This Afternoon
In a major update, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that India’s team for the ODI series against New Zealand will be announced this afternoon.
Speaking to ANI, Saikia said: “From January 11, India will play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Today, we have a selectors’ meeting and the squad will be revealed in the afternoon.”
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Is Shreyas Iyer in Contention?
Iyer is nearing full fitness after an extended rehab stint at the Centre of Excellence. With team announcements for the New Zealand series imminent, his inclusion in India’s ODI plans may hinge more on the timing of his recovery than his form, with selectors awaiting the medical team’s clearance before making a call.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Will Gaikwad get another chance?
With Shreyas Iyer’s availability for the New Zealand series still in doubt, Ruturaj Gaikwad could be in for yet another show at No. 4, having scored a hundred against South Africa last month.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Will Siraj find a place?
Siraj, who wasn’t picked for the Champions Trophy based on conditions, played in the away series against Australia before being overlooked for the South Africa assignment.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Rishabh Pant or Ishan Kishan?
The first point could be Pant’s position as the second wicketkeeper, with Ishan Kishan showing his hitting prowess in the middle order for Jharkhand and Dhruv Chand Jurel also smashing a ‘Daddy Hundred’ for UP in the domestic circuit.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Hello and welcome back!
Hello and welcome to the live updates for India’s ODI squad announcement.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: No Shreyas Iyer
The report said vice-captain Iyer is likely to remain unavailable, with his comeback delayed as he is yet to receive medical clearance from the Centre of Excellence after suffering an abdominal injury during the Australia tour in October.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Jurel To Be Dropped
Dhruv Jurel, who played as a reserve batter in the South Africa ODIs, is likely to make way for Gill, who’ll return as the captain after injury.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Pant To Be Dropped
The report said Pant is likely to be dropped for the ODI series. The selectors are strongly considering bringing in Ishan Kishan, who scored a 125 in the VHT, and was selected to the T20I side on the basis of his domestic performances, too. While some selectors apparently don’t want Pant to be dropped, other decision makers are worried about his inconsistency in decision-making in key moments.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Gill To Participate In Selection Call
The report said Gill will attend the selection meeting, too. However, Gill will play Punjab’s VHT match against Sikkim tomorrow from 9 am IST. This means that the meeting would likely happen in the evening.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Meeting Day Revealed!
The senior national selection committee is scheduled to meet online on Saturday to finalise the squad for the New Zealand ODI series, according to a Sportstar report.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates: VHT Top Wicket-Takers So Far
Ramakrishna Ghosh leads the wicket-takers in this year’s Vijay Hazare Trophy with 15 scalps at an average of 10.73, while Zeeshan Ansari follows with 14 wickets and two four-fors. Raj Limbani also has 14 wickets, alongside Ankur Panwar and Abhilash Shetty with 12 each, as Shardul Thakur’s 11 wickets at a remarkable 7.27 and Vasuki Koushik’s 11 complete the top seven after four matches.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates: VHT Top-Scorers So Far
Devdutt Padikkal tops this year’s Vijay Hazare Trophy run charts with 406 runs at an average of 101.50, followed closely by Aryan Juyal’s 390 runs at a stunning 130.00. Pukhraj Mann (360 runs), Ravi Singh (345 at a strike rate of 129.70), Lalit Yadav (342), Aman Mokhade (337) and Dhruv Jurel (324 at 137.87) complete the top seven after four matches each.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Rishabh Pant Trouble
The issue with Rishabh Pant seems to be that the selectors are neither convinced about his best position, nor have had the time to give him the chance to figure it out. There was an opportunity to play both Rahul and Pant together and end the backup wicketkeeper debate but India refused to do it.
“In T20 cricket, is he a top-three batter? Or is he a middle-order batter or is he a finisher? What’s he? He needs to answer these questions. As far as I am concerned, he is a top-three batter in T20I cricket. In ODIs, he is a good No.4 or No.5,” Dasgupta told India Today.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: IND-NZ ODI H2H
India and New Zealand have played 120 ODIs against each other, with the Men in Blue coming on top 62 times and the Kiwis winning 50.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Young Batter Injured
Sai Sudharsan, who might have had a very outside chance to get into the ODI squad, is set to miss over a month of competitve action after fracturing his right seventh rib during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. The 24-year-old is unlikely to feature in Tamil Nadu’s remaining Ranji games but is expected to recover in time for IPL duty with Gujarat Titans.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates: Why Shreyas Iyer Is Unlikely To Be Included
Iyer’s participation in the New Zealand ODIs is doubtful due to his delayed recovery from an abdominal injury. Rapid weight loss of around six kilograms because of the serious injury has reduced his muscle mass and strength. Although he can reportedly bat comfortably, the BCCI medical team is cautious and has extended his Return to Play programme.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: What About Sarfaraz Khan?
Sarfaraz Khan has been in excellent form in the VHT. Most recently, he smashed a 157 against Goa from number four. There could be a space for him in the middle-order but it’s very unlikely the team management would call up a debutant at this time, especially when Ruturaj Gaikwad excelled at the spot against South Africa.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Should Shami Be Selected?
Shami has bowled over 200 overs in the ongoing domestic season across the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, delivering strong performances despite remaining out of India’s plans. With the fitness question all but answered, and Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna’s form being inconsistent, the only thing stopping the selectors from picking Shami should be a tactical call.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Shami Reminder
Javagal Srinath (51) and Anil Kumble (39) are India’s top wicket-takers against New Zealand ODIs. The third best is Mohammed Shami (38). There’s a huge debate about whether Shami should be included in the squad now.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates: Virat Kohli’s Possible New Record
Sachin Tendulkar is India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs against New Zealand with 1,750. Virat Kohli will have a chance to go past that in these three matches and needs only 94 runs for it. As proof of how far ahead these two are of the pack, no other Indian batter has even 1200 runs against the Kiwis in the format.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates For New Zealand ODIs: Will Devdutt Padikkal Be Considered?
Devdutt Padikkal has been banging on the doors. He’s in the midst of a stunning Vijay Hazare Trophy having accumulated 406 runs from four innings at an average of 101.5 and a strike-rate of 106.01. His List A average of 92-plus across 37 games is scarcely believable.
India Squad Announcement Live Updates: Doesn’t Pant Deserve A Fair Run?
As per reports, at least one member in the Indian team management isn’t a fan of Rishabh Pant’s high-risk high-reward batting template and would like him to employ a more traditional way of batting. However, dropping him without a fair go could obviously lead to more questions being asked without tangible answers being provided. Pant didn’t feature in a single ODI last year although he was part of the Champions Trophy squad as well as in the series against South Africa last month. While Ruturaj Gaikwad, a specialist opener was tried at No. 4, Pant was left cooling his heels during all the three games. Pant has played only 31 ODIs since his debut in 2018.
