15 Players Announced for Upcoming New Zealand Series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the 15-member squad for the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand. Showcasing a new era of leadership, Shubman Gill has been named captain. He is set to return to the field after missing recent international matches due to injury.
Enhancing the leadership depth, Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain. However, his inclusion comes with a specific condition: he must pass a final fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) before being cleared to play. Iyer is recovering from a major injury sustained late last year and is expected to prove his match-readiness in domestic matches before the series begins. Key Player Returns and Key Absences
The team sees the return of key fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who is returning to the white-ball setup after a three-month break. In the batting department, veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retained their places, adding much-needed experience to the top order after impressive performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
In a tactical move focused on workload management, the selectors have decided to rest pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The BCCI stated that Pandya is not yet allowed to bowl his full quota of 10 overs, and with the T20 World Cup approaching in February, the management is prioritizing his fitness for the shortest format. Surprisingly, veteran seamer Mohammed Shami is being overlooked despite his good form in domestic cricket.
 Team Composition and Young Talent
Wicketkeeping duties will be shared between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, whose inclusion puts an end to recent rumors about their fitness for the series. Meanwhile, young pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been included, providing a versatile option in Pandya’s absence. The bowling attack will be bolstered by the youthful energy of Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna, as well as the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
Series Schedule
The series begins on January 11 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. The second match will be played in Rajkot on January 14, and the final ODI will be played in Indore on January 18. After the 50-over matches are over, the focus will shift to the five-match T20I series, starting on January 21.
 Full Indian squad:
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Click Here For More Sports News