The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce Team India's squad for the ODI series against New Zealand today. Former captain Rohit Sharma was the Player of the Series against Australia, and Virat Kohli was the Player of the Series against South Africa. Both veterans are certain to be selected. It's also confirmed that KL Rahul will be the team's primary wicketkeeper. However, it will be interesting to see whether Rishabh Pant is selected as the second wicketkeeper or whether Ishan Kishan makes the cut.
Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya may be rested as part of workload management, with the return of fast bowler Mohammed Siraj possible. The first match of the three-match ODI series will be played in Vadodara on January 11th.
Ishan Kishan, who earned a spot in the T20 World Cup squad on the back of his impressive domestic performances , could be
given a dual role this time around. He could become the team management's choice as both a backup wicketkeeper and a backup opener. Ishan can also bat in the middle order if needed, making him a strong backup option for wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul.
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On the other hand, it seems difficult for Rishabh Pant to retain his place in the ODI team. Pant played his last ODI against Sri Lanka in 2024 and has been in and out of the team since then. However, Pant is considered a player who brings the X-factor. If he gets the support of the coach and captain, Pant may be able to retain his place. However, this seems unlikely at present.
Yashasvi Jaiswal may be left out due to
the playing XI combination. With the return of Shubman Gill, Team India's top three is considered almost certain.
In such a scenario, it could be difficult for left-handed batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, who opened alongside Rohit Sharma against South Africa, to secure a place in the playing XI. If the team management prioritizes balance and combination, Yashasvi could be left out of not only the playing XI but the entire squad.
Shami and Siraj's return:
Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was part of Team India's tour of Australia, but was dropped for the series against South Africa. Siraj subsequently caught the selectors' attention with his impressive bowling in domestic cricket for Hyderabad. Based on this strong performance, he could be included in the team in place of Prasidh Krishna.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami is also likely to be discussed in the selection meeting. Shami has proven his fitness by bowling consistently in domestic cricket for Bengal since playing his last ODI in the Champions Trophy final in March 2025.
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