The next ODI series of the Indian cricket team is against New Zealand, the first match of which will be played on 11 January. BCCI announced the ODI team on Saturday, in which captain Shubhman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer have returned. However, despite scoring a century in the last match, Ruturaj Gaikwad did not get a place, due to which some fans on social media are criticizing Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and Coach Gautam Gambhir.

Ruturaj Gaikwad had scored 105 runs in the second ODI played against South Africa in Raipur, but he did not bat in the third match of the series. Gaikwad played a brilliant inning of 124 runs against Uttarakhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on 31 December, despite being dropped from the ODI team against New Zealand.

What did Ravichandran Ashwin write?

After the announcement of the ODI team against New Zealand, former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin made a post on X. He posted a photo of Rituraj Gaikwad and hashtagged his name, writing, “No matter how you feel. Get up, get ready, wear pads, go to the field and never give up. It may be difficult to ignore, but such is the competition for a place in the Indian team.”

No matter how you feel.

Get up, dress up, pad up, show up and never give up.

It can be hard to miss but such is the competition for places in the Indian team. #RuturajGaikwad pic.twitter.com/A1taarpMdF

— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) January 3, 2026

Criticism is being received on social media

One user wrote, “BCCI is doing the same again! Recently dropped Ruturaj Gaikwad from the team despite his ODI century and excellent domestic form, only to make way for the returning players. Continuity? Merit? What is all this?”

BCCI at it again! Dropping Ruturaj Gaikwad after his recent ODI century and stellar domestic form, just to accommodate returning players.

Consistency? Merit? What’s that?

#BCCI #IndianCricket #RuturajGaikwad pic.twitter.com/OfUGhMy9Vf

— Shreya (@shreyagenai) January 3, 2026

Questions are also being raised on the selection of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, while many fans are raising questions as to what does the performance and form in the domestic tournament mean? Many fans are angry at Mohammed Shami being ignored, who are asking questions to the selection committee on social media as to why he is being kept out to bring a player like him.

India’s ODI squad against New Zealand

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Shreyas Iyer will return from the ODI series against New Zealand, BCCI has announced the team. The 3-match ODI series will start from January 11, but even before that Iyer will be seen on the field. Know when and against which team he will play.

Shreyas Iyer was injured during the Australia tour in October last year. In the third ODI played in Sydney, he fell while taking a catch and got injured in his ribs. The scan revealed internal bleeding, after which he was admitted to the hospital. Vice-captain Iyer was also out of the ODI series against South Africa, but now he is going to make a comeback in the series against New Zealand.

When will Shreyas Iyer play?

It is reported that Shreyas Iyer will play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before the ODI series against New Zealand. He will play for Mumbai team against Himachal Pradesh, this match will be held on 6th January. This will be special because this will be Iyer’s first big match after the injury.

Iyer has been rehabbing at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru for the past several days. This is called ‘return to play’. Under this, he played his first 50 overs practice match on 2 January. If he plays in Vijay Hazare Trophy on 6th January, it will be an important match for him.

News

India’s squad for @IDFCFIRSTBank ODI series against New Zealand announced.

Details https://t.co/Qpn22XBAPq#TeamIndia , #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/8Qp2WXPS5P

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 3, 2026

BCCI update regarding Shreyas Iyer

Iyer has been included as captain in the ODI series against New Zealand. However, BCCI has clarified that he is yet to get fitness clearance from BCCI COE. BCCI said, “Shreyas Iyer’s availability will depend on fitness clearance from the BCCI Center of Excellence.”

Hardik Pandya is not a part of this team, BCCI told about him, “Hardik has not been given permission by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match, and his workload is being managed in view of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”

India’s ODI squad against New Zealand

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya will not play in India’s next ODI series, which starts from January 11. On the India tour, the New Zealand team will play a 5-match T20 series after the 3-match ODI series, which will be the last opportunity to test the preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026.

According to the report of Cricbuzz, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya will be rested in the 3-match ODI series against New Zealand. Both will return in the upcoming 5 T20 match series, for which BCCI has announced the team.

Keep a close eye on Bumrah’s workload

Jasprit Bumrah has not played any ODI for India since the 2023 World Cup. According to the report, the fast bowler’s workload is being closely monitored. The next main target of BCCI is the T20 World Cup, which is to be held in India and Sri Lanka between February 7 and 8.

Resting Jasprit Bumrah from the ODI series against New Zealand means that the board does not want Bumrah to be given the load in matches which are not very important. Especially when the T20 World Cup 2026 will start within 10 days of the 5-match T20 series.

The board does not want to give load to Hardik also

Hardik Pandya has been the main player of the team for some time as an all-rounder, who is performing brilliantly with bat and ball. He can bowl in powerplay and death overs. Although he has not played any ODI since the Champions Trophy, his exclusion was due to fitness reasons. In such a situation, he can also be rested in the ODI series against New Zealand, which is not a very important series.

Domestic cricket is also an important aspect in Hardik’s case. According to the report, he can play 2 matches for Baroda in Vijay Hazare Trophy.

India vs New Zealand ODI series schedule

• 11 January- Vadodara
• 14 January- Rajkot
• 18 January- Indore

The next international series of the Indian cricket team is against New Zealand. The India tour will start with a series of 3 ODI matches, the first match of which will be held on January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. BCCI can announce the team in the first week of January. 2 changes are possible in the team.

Indian Test and ODI team captain Shubman Gill was injured in the first Test against South Africa. He suffered a leg injury, after which he was out of the Test and then the entire ODI series. Although he returned from the T20 series, his performance was poor. The result of this was that he was not selected in the team for the T20 World Cup.

Will Shreyas Iyer return?

Talking about Shreyas Iyer, he was badly injured during the Australia tour, he is currently undergoing rehabilitation process at BCCI’s Center of Excellence. The good thing is that Iyer has started practicing batting in the nets, which is very good news for his comeback.

Difficult to have Ishaan or Padikkal in the team

Ishan Kishan and Devdutt Padikkal are performing brilliantly in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but right now there is no place for them in the team. Ishaan has been selected for the T20 World Cup and the T20 series against New Zealand, but he may have to wait for the ODIs. On the other hand, despite Vijay Hazare scoring two consecutive centuries, it seems difficult for Padikkal to be selected in the team.

Tilak Verma and Dhruv Jurel will be out

With the arrival of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Verma and Dhruv Jurel will have to be out. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be included in the team as 2 wicketkeepers, Tilak Verma may also have to go out, who was the backup of Rituraj Gaikwad.

Pandya and Bumrah rested

Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah can be rested from the ODI series. Both are important players in the T20 World Cup, due to workload management they will be rested from the ODI series against New Zealand. He has not played in the last 2 ODI series for India, and this will continue.

Akshar Patel did not play in the ODI against South Africa, the BCCI did not give the reason that he was rested and was ruled out. He may also be out of the ODI series against New Zealand. Ravindra Jadeja may get his last chance, whose performance in the last few matches in this format has not been good. He was dropped from the team in Australia and could not impress with the ball against South Africa.

India’s probable ODI squad against New Zealand

Shubman Gill (captain), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana.