India faces New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting January 11. The BCCI will announce the team on January 3 after the selectors meet. Fans are waiting to see which players make the cut this time.
Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee has some tough calls ahead of it. The India ODI squad 2026 needs to balance between rest and preparation properly. Several big names might get breaks while others return.
Squad Announcement Date
The India ODI squad for New Zealand 2026 will be officially revealed on January 3. BCCI’s selection committee holds a virtual meeting that day to finalise names. Agarkar and his team have been watching players carefully over recent weeks.
This announcement comes just eight days before the series kicks off. That’s cutting it pretty close for preparation time, honestly. But the selectors need to assess everyone’s fitness levels first properly.
The three matches happen in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore during mid-January. NZ arrives here ready for some tough competition ahead. The series matters a lot as both teams eye the trophy.
Key Players and Injuries
Shubman Gill returns as captain after missing matches against South Africa recently. The neck injury that kept him out has healed up nicely. Gill took over ODI captaincy duties back in October 2025.
Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah might sit this series out completely. They played T20Is against South Africa just days ago and need rest. The team can’t risk burning out these crucial players before bigger tournaments.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will likely join the India ODI squad again. Their experience becomes vital against the quality opposition they always provide. The senior duo brings stability that younger players can constantly learn from.
Shreyas Iyer won’t feature as he’s recovering at the BCCI’s training centre. He got hurt fielding during the Australia series and needs more time. The vice-captain position might go to someone else temporarily for the 2026 series.
Recent Form and Preparation
India last played ODIs under KL Rahul’s leadership against South Africa. They won two matches out of three, which ain’t too shabby. Rahul stepped up well when Gill couldn’t play those games.
This series against New Zealand helps finalise combinations before World Cup discussions start. The selectors want to test different batting orders and bowling rotations here. Every match becomes important for team building heading into the 2026 calendar.
New Zealand named their squads for both formats weeks ago. They’re coming prepared and won’t make things easy for the home team whatsoever.
Potential Indian Team for the NZ Series 2026:
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana
