Star players return while selectors manage Pandya's heavy workload
BCCI selectors have officially announced the India ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand, marking significant returns and strategic exclusions. The headlines belong to captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who have both regained their spots after missing the South Africa tour due to injuries.
Fans hoping to see Hardik Pandya in action will be disappointed. Despite his explosive form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy—where he recently hammered five consecutive boundaries (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4) to score a century for Baroda against Vidarbha—the all-rounder has been rested. The BCCI clarified that Pandya’s exclusion is strictly for workload management ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He has not yet received clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence to bowl a full quota of 10 overs, prompting a cautious approach.
Tough Calls on Young Talent
The return of senior figures has forced some difficult decisions regarding in-form youngsters. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored a brilliant century batting at number four against South Africa, finds no place in this India ODI squad. Similarly, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel has been released to make way for the retained Rishabh Pant.
There was considerable debate surrounding the wicketkeeping slot. While Ishan Kishan presented a strong case, sources indicate the selection committee was unanimous in their support for Rishabh Pant. The management views Pant as a direct replacement for KL Rahul in the lower middle order, valuing his ability to stabilize or accelerate the innings as needed. This decision ensures backup opener Yashasvi Jaiswal retains his spot, maintaining squad balance.
Bowling Attack and Fitness Updates
On the bowling front, Mohammed Siraj makes a welcome return to the white-ball setup. He replaces Tilak Varma and is expected to spearhead the pace attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Siraj will work alongside Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna. In the spin department, Ravindra Jadeja has been preferred over Axar Patel, who missed the previous T20Is due to illness.
It is important to note that while Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain, his final participation remains subject to fitness clearance. He is currently scheduled to prove his match readiness by playing for Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Series Schedule
The action kicks off in Vadodara on January 11, followed by matches in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18. With no ODI fixtures scheduled immediately after this series until the tour of England in July, selectors have opted for stability over experimentation.
India’s ODI Squad:
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
