India’s squad for the ODI series against New Zealand is expected to be announced later this week: here’s the predicted squad for the three matches.
India will take on New Zealand for three ODIs, to be held on January 11, 14 and 18. The games will be held in Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore, with India being bolstered by the return of skipper Shubman Gill, who missed the South Africa ODIs due to an injury.
Batters
The top three are fixed, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill slotting in. Gill is expected to be fit for the series after a recent toe injury kept him out of the last two T20Is against the Proteas. With Gill not selected for the T20 World Cup either, workload will not be an issue for him either. Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to retain his place as the backup opener, with Tilak Varma not expected to be picked, as he gears up for the five T20Is and the T20 World Cup. According to the latest reports, Shreyas Iyer is unlikely to feature as he continues recovering from an injury, which would mean the doors remain open for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored a hundred against South Africa in the middle-order.
Wicketkeepers
Both Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel were picked for the South Africa ODIs, but Ishan Kishan could possibly edge them out as the second keeper in the squad, after the first-choice KL Rahul. Kishan has been in brilliant form of late, which even led to a T20I recall for the World Cup. Following that, he scored a mindblowing 39-ball 125 against Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, hitting the second-fastest List A ton by an India, after reaching the landmark in 33 balls. The selectors might also be eager to get him back into the fray ahead of the New Zealand T20Is and the T20 World Cup, having last played for India in November 2023.
All-rounders
The all-round trio from the South Africa series will likely stay: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Hardik Pandya is very unlikely to feature, with the priority being his fitness for the T20 World Cup. Jadeja should play in all three games, with the choice between the other all-rounder depending on the pitch conditions. If they need an extra spinner, Sundar will get a look-in; else, Reddy will join Jadeja as the second all-rounder.
Bowlers
Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, the two quicks picked for the T20 World Cup, might be given a rest, and it could mark the comeback of Mohammed Siraj into the squad. Siraj, who was not picked for the South Africa series, picked up seven wickets in four games in the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. While it was in a different format, the lack of options could prompt them to go back to the bowler who starred in the England Test series earlier in the year.
Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna will be the other quicks, while Mohammed Shami remains an outside bet. Shami’s ODI appearances have been limited ever since he starred for India, but consistent domestic performances, including scalping eight wickets in four Vijay Hazare Trophy games, might inspire a comeback. Kuldeep Yadav will be the lone spinner.
India’s predicted squad for the New Zealand ODIs
Batters
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Wicketkeepers
KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan.
All-rounders
Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja.
Bowlers
Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav.
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