Summary
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced the official 15-member India squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand scheduled in January 2026. Shubman Gill will lead the side while experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant will bolster the batting. The squad also features the return of Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain subject to fitness clearance. Key pacers and spinners provide balance ahead of this highly anticipated series.
Key Highlights
• Captain and Leadership: Shubman Gill is named captain for the ODI series, marking his leadership return following prior injury and absence from some tours.
• Vice-Captain Return: Shreyas Iyer is included as vice-captain but his participation is pending fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence after recovering from a spleen injury.
• Experienced Core: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul feature in the squad bringing experience and finishing strength to the batting unit.
• Middle and Lower Order: Rishabh Pant keeps wickets with additional depth from Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
• Pace Attack: The bowling lineup includes Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna adding varied pace options.
• Youth Talent: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy offer firepower and future promise in the batting lineup.
• Notable Absences: Hardik Pandya is not included as he has not been cleared to bowl a full quota, and Jasprit Bumrah is also rested to manage workload before the T20 World Cup.
Also Read : Who Has Hit the Most Sixes in ODI Cricket History in 2025
Full Indian ODI Squad vs New Zealand 2026:
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 BCCI COE fitness clearance)
| 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 |
Editor’s Insights
The composition of the India ODI squad for the New Zealand series reflects a balance between experience, leadership and youth talent. Appointing Shubman Gill as captain signals India’s faith in the next generation of leaders. Gill’s calm batting style and strong chase record make him a compelling choice to lead in limited overs.
The return of Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain adds middle-order stability, although his final involvement remains conditional on fitness. Rishabh Pant’s inclusion solidifies the lower middle order while his ability to accelerate the scoring rate is vital in ODI matchups.
Managing workloads is clearly a priority for selectors. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah’s absence due to fitness or workload considerations ahead of the T20 World Cup shows strategic planning. This gives opportunities to emerging players like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy to prove themselves on the big stage.
Source & Attribution
Verified from official BCCI release and updates from ICC, media covering the India ODI squad announcement for the New Zealand series beginning January 11, 2026. BCCI TV
🚨 News 🚨
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 3, 2026
India’s squad for @IDFCFIRSTBank ODI series against New Zealand announced.
Details ▶️ https://t.co/Qpn22XBAPq#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/8Qp2WXPS5P
Disclaimer
This article summarizes publicly available verified information. EveningHeadline.com does not claim ownership of original content and links back to official and credible reports. This content is for informational purposes only.
I run Evening Headlines where I share quick and complete news updates so readers can stay informed without wasting time. I work as a cost accountant but I also follow cricket, the economy, investments, movies, and social causes. I enjoy turning big stories into short, clear summaries that anyone can understand. I also create content on my other sites like Wealth Vartalap, Christmas Time Clock, Cashplanter, and Abhishek Listing. My goal is simple make news easy to follow and worth reading every day.