Shreyas Iyer has returned as India’s ODI vice-captain for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, having missed the preceding ODI series against the West Indies due to India’s T20I commitments during the Asian Games. Iyer will serve as vice-captain for the first three ODIs before taking over the captaincy for the fourth and fifth matches, with Ishan Kishan appointed as his deputy for the final two games. This rotation allows Shubman Gill, the regular ODI and Test captain, to focus on preparing for the two-match Test series, part of the World Test Championship cycle, which follows the ODIs.
Squad Updates and Player Availability
- Prasidh Krishna returns to the ODI squad for the first three matches, though his availability remains subject to fitness following a left hamstring injury sustained during the West Indies series.
- Anshul Kamboj, who replaced Prasidh during the West Indies tour, is also included for the first three New Zealand ODIs.
- Tilak Varma and Kumar Kushagra have been added to the 16-member squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs, marking a maiden national call-up for Kushagra.
- Auqib Nabi has also been included in the squad for the final two matches.
- Prasidh and Kamboj, both part of the upcoming Test team, are excluded from the roster for the last two ODIs to prioritize red-ball preparations.
Core Selection and Match Schedule
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav feature in both the white-ball and Test squads. Notably, Reddy, Kuldeep, and Siraj will be retained for the final two ODIs despite their Test commitments. KL Rahul is named as the wicketkeeper for the first three matches, while Kishan will assume that role for the final two games as Rahul transitions to Test preparations.
Series Itinerary
The ODI series begins on November 4, following the five-match T20I series. The first match takes place in Auckland, with the second game in Wellington on November 7 and the third in Hamilton on November 10. The final two ODIs are scheduled for November 13 and 15 in Mount Maunganui, preceding the start of the Test series on November 19.
