15 member India ODI squad for New Zealand released, Siraj makes comeback

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand , starting January 11 . Shubman Gill will captain the team, with Shreyas Iyer named vice-captain, subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.

Iyer is currently on a recovery path after suffering a serious abdominal muscle injury in Australia last October. He is expected to feature in Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy clash in Jaipur on January 6 before confirming his availability for the ODI series. With their inclusion, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Dhruv Jurel , who featured in India’s November series against South Africa, have been dropped. Gaikwad, in particular, had scored a century at No. 4 but missed out due to Iyer’s return.

Hardik Pandya has been rested after medical staff advised against him bowling his full quota of 10 overs , with the BCCI managing his workload ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next month. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has also been rested as part of workload management , considering his recent heavy match load. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant retains his place as the preferred wicket-keeper, with the selection committee opting not to include Ishan Kishan .

The squad combines experienced campaigners with emerging talent. Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will anchor the batting, while Yashasvi Jaiswal strengthens the opening slot. The pace attack is bolstered by the comeback of Mohammed Siraj , who joins Arshdeep Singh , Harshit Rana , and Prasidh Krishna , while spin options include Washington Sundar , Ravindra Jadeja , and Kuldeep Yadav . Seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy adds balance to the squad.

The three ODIs are scheduled as follows:

• 1st ODI: Jan 11 - Vadodara

• 2nd ODI: Jan 14 - Rajkot

• 3rd ODI: Jan 18 - Indore

India’s ODI Squad:

Shubman Gill (C), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The team strikes a balance between experience and youth , blending seasoned performers with fresh talent as India prepares to begin its 2026 ODI campaign against a competitive New Zealand side.