BCCI To Announce India’s Squad For ODI Series Against New Zealand On….

“Superstars” Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli set to return to ODI action after fulfilling mandatory domestic commitments in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

January 1, 2026: The Indian cricket landscape shifts its focus to the 50-over format as the BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, prepares to pick the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand. According to sources, the committee will hold an online meeting on Saturday, January 3, 2026, to finalize the roster for the series beginning January 11.

The series serves as a critical bridge for India’s senior stars before the team transitions into a massive T20 cycle culminating in the 2026 T20 World Cup in February.

Leadership & Key Returns

• Captain Gill is Back: Having recovered from a neck injury that sidelined him during the recent South Africa tour, Shubman Gill is set to lead the side. Despite his recent omission from the T20 World Cup squad, he remains the designated captain for the ODI and Test formats.
• The Return of “Ro-Ko”: After skipping the ODI leg of the South Africa tour, veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are confirmed to return. Both legends have been active in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy to maintain match fitness and meet BCCI’s domestic participation mandates.
• Iyer’s Delay: Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who was expected to return from a shoulder injury, will miss the series. He has been advised another week of rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

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Workload Management: Bumrah and Hardik to Sit Out

In a strategic move to preserve India’s “non-negotiable” T20 pillars, the selectors are likely to rest Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya for the 50-over matches.

• The Goal: Ensure both players are at peak fitness for the five-match T20I series against the Kiwis (starting Jan 21) and the subsequent World Cup.
• The Replacements: In their absence, the doors remain open for Prasidh Krishna and potentially a recall for veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who is reportedly nearing full match fitness.

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India vs New Zealand: ODI Schedule

The team is scheduled to assemble in Vadodara on January 7 for a short training camp before the opening fixture.

Match	Date	Venue	Time (IST)
1st ODI	Jan 11, 2026	BCA Stadium, Vadodara	1:30 PM
2nd ODI	Jan 14, 2026	Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot	1:30 PM
3rd ODI	Jan 18, 2026	Holkar Stadium, Indore	1:30 PM

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The Wicketkeeper Conundrum

With KL Rahul expected to be the primary choice behind the stumps, the secondary keeper spot is a three-way race:

1. Ishan Kishan: The frontrunner after a sensational 39-ball 125 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
2. Dhruv Jurel: Scored a massive 160* for Uttar Pradesh recently, putting pressure on the veterans.
3. Rishabh Pant: While part of the setup, he did not feature in a single ODI in 2025 and might be rested to focus on the T20 World Cup prep.