India’s white-ball juggernaut will resume on January 11 when they host New Zealand for the first game of the three-match ODI series. The three-ODI rubber will be followed by a five-T20I series.
Last month, India beat South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series and 3-1 in the T20Is. Since the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early last year, the hype and anticipation around any of India’s ODI series has grown manifold, given ODIs remain the only international format these two superstars now play for India and their aspirations to feature in the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
Both the senior batsmen have been highly impactful over the last four ODI matches against Australia and South Africa. They will look to continue this rich vein of form in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, after which India’s next ODI series will be in July in England.
A 15-man Indian squad has been revealed for the ODIs against the Kiwis. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are rested from the New Zealand ODIs considering the T20I series against the same opposition, which will be followed by the T20 World Cup.
There are three changes to India’s squad that hosted South Africa. Let’s check them out.
IND vs NZ: 3 Indian players part of South Africa ODI Series who are dropped for New Zealand ODIs
Shubman Gill In, Tilak Varma Out
Shubman Gill missed the South Africa ODI series due to a neck injury. KL Rahul captained India in Gill’s absence. Gill has been declared fit and will lead the side against New Zealand.
Gill replaced Tilak Varma in the squad. Tilak didn’t get to play a single ODI against the Proteas. He is featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before taking part in the T20Is series.
Shreyas Iyer In, Ruturaj Gaikwad Out
The omission of Ruturaj Gaikwad from the ODI series against New Zealand has shocked many, as he had smashed a century in the second ODI against South Africa while batting at No. 4. But the reasons are understandable.
Firstly, Shreyas Iyer, who has missed all action since suffering a spleen injury in October in Australia, is picked in the squad to face New Zealand, with the caveat that he needs fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Iyer is the vice-captain of the ODI team and is the incumbent No. 4, having sealed his spot in this position with terrific performances in the last couple of years.
Secondly, with Iyer walking back in the XI, Gaikwad would have been on the bench. Instead, he will be better off playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. If Iyer is not declared fit by the time the series starts, Gaikwad would most certainly be called to the squad.
Yashasvi Jaiswal asserted his place as a backup opener with his century in the third ODI and has been retained in the squad.
Mohammed Siraj In, Dhruv Jurel Out
This is not really a like-for-like change. Mohammed Siraj played in the ODI series in Australia but was excluded from the home rubber against South Africa. India have recalled him to the ODI setup, while Mohammed Shami has been ignored once again despite proving both form and fitness in domestic cricket over the past few months.
Jurel was on the bench for the entire ODI series against South Africa and would have been surplus to requirements both as a batter and keeper—Rishabh Pant is the backup keeper for Rahul—in the upcoming series.
IND vs NZ: When and where is the India vs New Zealand 1st ODI?
The first ODI of the India vs New Zealand series will be played in Vadodara on January 11, Sunday.
IND vs NZ: India squad for ODI series against New Zealand
Shubman Gill (C), Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer (vc)*, Rohit Sharma, Washington Sundar, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Nitish Kumar Reddy, KL Rahul (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal (*subject to fitness clearance).
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