Shreyas Iyer is set for his international comeback after being named in India's ODI squad for the three-match series at home against New Zealand. The selectors have also rested Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah as part of workload management with an eye on T20 World Cup 2026.
Iyer's selection is subject to a final fitness test that shall be conducted after his Vijay Hazare clash against Himachal Pradesh on January 6. However, the 31-year-old has shown remarkable progress in rehabilitation and seems on track for his international comeback against the Black Caps.
Contrary to speculations, Rishabh Pant keeps his spot as the second wicket-keeper batter in the side. KL Rahul remains the primary wicket-keeper batter in the side unless the team management decides to play him and Pant in the same XI. With no Hardik in the squad, Nitish Kumar Reddy gets an opportunity to stake his claims as a white-ball all-rounder.
Mohammed Siraj is the other notable returnee to the squad and is expected to lead the pace attack in the absence of Bumrah. Most of the other players in the squad are those who were part of the previous ODI assignment against South Africa. Shubman Gill, who was a last-minute exclusion to India's T20 World Cup squad, continues to captain the side.
India ODI squad for New Zealand series: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
