Shubman Gill handed the captaincy for New Zealand ODIs
The BCCI has named Shubman Gill as captain for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The move underscores the team management’s continued faith in the young opener, who has impressed across formats and now gets another chance to lead India in a bilateral ODI series.
Shreyas Iyer named vice-captain, fitness to decide his spot
Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain, but his place in the final XI is conditional on clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). Iyer has been recovering from the injury he suffered during the Australia ODIs, and the team will make a final call on his availability just days before the series begins.
Hardik Pandya omitted as workload is managed
One of the most talked-about omissions is Hardik Pandya. He has not been selected because he has not yet been cleared by the CoE to bowl a full 10-over quota in ODIs. With the ICC T20 World Cup approaching, selectors and management appear to be prioritising workload management and long-term fitness over short-term selection, which explains Hardik’s absence despite his importance in white-ball cricket.
Experience and youth in balance
The squad blends established stars with emerging talent. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bring vast experience at the top and middle of the order. Youngsters such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy provide batting depth and future options. The side looks set up to handle different match situations and conditions.
- Wicketkeeping options: KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant share wicketkeeping duties, giving flexibility in selection and batting order.
- All-round options: Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar offer left-arm spin and useful batting depth, plus reliable fielding.
- Spin department: Kuldeep Yadav leads the spin attack and will be key in middle overs.
- Pace attack: Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna provide a mix of pace, swing, bounce and death-over skills.
Why this squad matters
India are about to play three ODIs and five T20Is against New Zealand, and the white-ball season is busy. The selectors have to balance immediate results with keeping players fresh for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This squad reflects that balancing act — experience where it matters and cautious workload management for important players.
India ODI squad vs New Zealand
- 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
*Shreyas Iyer’s inclusion is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Looking ahead
This series will be an important preparation window for India. It gives new leaders like Gill a chance to build a captain’s approach in ODIs, allows younger players to stake claims, and lets management monitor workload ahead of the T20 World Cup. Expect flexible combinations and careful rotation as India navigates back-to-back white-ball commitments.