Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the announcement of the India squad for New Zealand ODI series. The BCCI hasn’t revealed the official names yet but should do so soon. Most likely the announcement will happen by late December or early January 2026, in the first week.
Details about the IND vs NZ Series
India hosts New Zealand for three ODI matches and five T20I games in January 2026. The ODIs kick off on January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara first. Then, the matches move to Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot and Holkar Stadium in Indore respectively.
This contest comes right before the T20 World Cup starting in February which makes it crucial. The India squad will probably feature most senior players who need match practice badly. New Zealand always brings tough competition which helps teams to prepare for bigger tournaments coming up.
Big Three Expected Back
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul should all return to the side. All three performed brilliantly against South Africa in the recent ODI series there. Their experience becomes vital when playing against quality teams in home conditions.
The senior trio brings stability which younger players need around them during pressure situations. Rohit leads the batting while Kohli provides batting firepower in the middle overs consistently. KL Rahul’s wicketkeeping skills plus his batting make him almost irreplaceable in 2026 plans.
These three rarely miss 50-over matches against top-ranked teams touring nowadays regularly. Their presence automatically lifts the entire squad’s confidence levels before matches even begin properly.
Captaincy and Selection Drama
Shubman Gill’s situation has everyone confused since he was dropped from the T20 World Cup 2026. Speculation suggests he might still make the ODIs squad for New Zealand matches. But nothing’s confirmed until BCCI officially announces names in the coming days or weeks.
Shreyas Iyer could potentially captain if something changes with regular leadership suddenly before 2026. These leadership discussions often happen behind closed doors before any public announcements happen. The team selection might spring some surprises when names are finally revealed officially.
Players performing well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could sneak into the India squad unexpectedly. Domestic form often influences selectors when choosing between similar-skilled players for tours. Good performances against New Zealand might boost someone’s confidence.
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
