Indian vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been recalled to the ODI squad, subject to a fitness test, as the selectors named a 15-man squad for the three-match series against New Zealand. The series will begin on January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara and will be India’s first ODI assignment of the year, with Shubman Gill leading the team.
Senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have been retained, bolstering India’s experienced core in the 50-over format. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj also returns to the ODI setup while Mohammed Shami remains sidelined. Shami has not featured for India since the Champions Trophy in March 2025. Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad have also been left out.
Iyer’s inclusion is subject to approval from the BCCI Center of Excellence, with the selectors keeping a close eye on his fitness. All-rounder Hardik Pandya was rested after not being cleared to play the entire 10-over spell, a decision taken with workload management in mind ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
“Shreyas Iyer’s availability is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI COE. Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in the match and with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup coming up, his workload is managed,” BCCI issued a statement with the 15-man squad.
The squad includes KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as wicketkeepers, while the all-round group consists of Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
“The senior selection committee has selected the Indian squad for the upcoming three-match IDFC First Bank ODI series against New Zealand starting on January 11 at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara. The availability of Shreyas Iyer is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI COE. Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE for T2 and the ICC World 10 Men match to follow, his workload is being managed,” the BCCI said in statement.
Indian Team: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (week), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
January 3, 2026
