BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
India on Saturday announced a provisional squad for the upcoming home one-day international series against New Zealand, marking the return of Shreyas Iyer to the national setup as preparations intensify for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The three-match ODI series, beginning Jan. 11, forms part of a broader white-ball contest against the Black Caps that also includes five Twenty20 internationals. With the global tournament scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka next February, selectors are using the home season to fine-tune combinations and assess player fitness.
Iyer, who has been sidelined from international cricket since October, was included subject to clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s medical team. The middle-order batter suffered a spleen injury during an ODI against Australia in Sydney and has since been undergoing rehabilitation. If declared fit, he is set to return as India’s vice-captain for the series.
Captain Shubman Gill also makes his return to the ODI side after missing the December series against South Africa. Gill had been troubled by a neck spasm during the preceding Test matches but later featured in the T20 fixtures against the Proteas, convincing selectors of his readiness for the 50-over format.
The squad announcement brought mixed news for some players. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Verma were left out, despite Gaikwad’s impressive recent form that included his maiden ODI century against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. The selection panel opted for continuity and experience as the series is seen as a key step in the team’s long-term planning.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been retained as the second choice behind Lokesh Rahul, who recently captained the side in South Africa. Rahul’s leadership during that tour, along with his consistent performances, has kept him firmly in the selectors’ plans.
Senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in the ODI squad after sharpening their form in domestic cricket, having taken part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Their return adds experience and stability to the batting lineup as India faces a strong New Zealand side.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been declared fit but has not yet regained the capacity to bowl a full 10-over spell in ODIs. As a precautionary measure, selectors have opted to rest him further, prioritizing his long-term fitness ahead of the T20 World Cup. In his place, Nitish Kumar Reddy has been included, offering additional balance to the squad.
In the bowling department, pacer Mohammed Siraj returns to lead the attack after being rested for workload management during the South Africa series. Jasprit Bumrah has been given another break, allowing the team to manage his fitness carefully. Siraj will be supported by a mix of pace and spin options, including Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
The ODI series will open in Vadodara on Jan. 11 before moving to Rajkot on Jan. 14 and concluding in Indore on Jan. 18. The five-match T20 series will begin on Jan. 21, extending the bilateral contest and providing further opportunities for experimentation as India builds toward its World Cup campaign.
The provisional squad named for the ODI series includes Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Original article
Comments