India Names ODI Squad for New Zealand Tour: Gill Captains, Bumrah & Pandya Rest Expected

India’s ODI Squad vs New Zealand: Gill to Lead; Bumrah and Pandya Likely Rested.

The Indian team for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand will be announced on January 3, with the squad set to assemble in Vadodara on January 7. The series begins on January 11 in Vadodara, followed by matches in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18.

“The national selection committee, led by former pacer Ajit Agarkar, will hold an online meeting on January 3 to finalise the squad,” a BCCI source said.

The series will be closely watched as superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to ODI action for the first time since December’s series against South Africa. India has already named its squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand starting January 21, while New Zealand has announced both their ODI and T20I squads.

Recovered from a neck injury, Shubman Gill will lead the ODI side, having recently been left out of India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad. Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer will continue rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and remain unavailable for this series.

To manage workloads ahead of the T20 World Cup, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah are expected to be rested. Both players missed India’s last two ODI series.

Selectors will also consider in-form Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who scored 307 runs in three matches at an average of 153.5, including 160* off 101 balls against Baroda on December 29, or Ishan Kishan as a potential replacement for Rishabh Pant as India’s second wicketkeeper.