New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India’s ODI and Test squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, with Shubman Gill named captain for the first three ODIs and Shreyas Iyer set to lead the side in the final two matches.
The selection announcement on October 16 also confirmed India’s squad for the two-Test series, which follows the five-match ODI leg. The tour will see India use different leadership combinations for the ODI matches, while Gill will captain the Test team.
The ODI selections feature senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, alongside wicketkeeper KL Rahul and several players who have been included across India’s recent international squads. The Test squad includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar.
One notable feature is the split in India’s ODI squad for the first three matches and the last two. The team for the fourth and fifth ODIs includes changes in leadership and personnel, with Iyer taking over as captain.
Shubman Gill to lead India in first three ODIs
Gill will captain India in the opening three matches of the five-game ODI series. Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain for this part of the tour.
The squad includes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, providing experience in the batting line-up. KL Rahul has been selected as wicketkeeper, while Ishan Kishan also features in the squad.
India’s ODI squad for the first three matches includes Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav.
Prasidh Krishna’s selection is subject to fitness clearance, according to the BCCI announcement.
The combination brings together established international players and other options across batting, pace bowling and spin. The selectors have also retained Ruturaj Gaikwad, while Ishan Kishan’s inclusion gives the team another wicketkeeping option.
Shreyas Iyer to captain the final two ODIs
For the fourth and fifth matches, Iyer will take over as captain, with Ishan Kishan named vice-captain and wicketkeeper.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain in the squad for the final two games. The team also includes Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.
The squad changes between the two phases of the series include the omission of KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna from the announced group for the last two ODIs, while Tilak Varma, Auqib Nabi, Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur are included. Ishan Kishan remains in the team and takes on the vice-captaincy role.
The change in captaincy and squad composition means India will have a different leadership group for the final part of the ODI series. The BCCI has announced the two groups separately, with the first squad covering the opening three matches and the second covering the final two.
Rishabh Pant included in Test squad subject to fitness
India’s Test squad for the New Zealand tour includes Shubman Gill as captain and KL Rahul as vice-captain. Rishabh Pant has been selected as a wicketkeeper, subject to fitness clearance.
Dhruv Jurel is the other wicketkeeper named in the Test squad. The batting group also features Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan.
The all-rounder options include Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar. Kuldeep Yadav adds a specialist spin option, while the pace attack includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna.
The squad therefore includes a mix of experienced international players and younger options as India prepare for the two-match series. Pant’s availability will depend on the required fitness clearance, as specified in the official announcement.
India’s squads for the New Zealand tour
ODI squad for the first three matches
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav.
Prasidh Krishna’s selection is subject to fitness clearance.
ODI squad for the fourth and fifth matches
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper and vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.
Test squad
Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
Rishabh Pant’s selection is subject to fitness clearance.
New Zealand series begins in November
India’s five-match ODI series against New Zealand will begin on November 4 in Auckland. The second ODI is scheduled for November 7 in Wellington, followed by the third in Hamilton on November 10. The fourth and fifth matches will take place in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15, respectively.
The two-Test series will begin in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test scheduled to start in Christchurch on November 27.
The ODI and Test selections complete India’s squad announcements for the tour, following the earlier announcement of the T20I team. With the schedule spanning three formats, the selected players will be part of a lengthy international assignment in New Zealand.
The squad changes for the final two ODIs and the fitness conditions attached to the selections of Prasidh Krishna and Rishabh Pant will be important details to follow as the tour approaches.