With the matches scheduled for Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore, the selection committee was headed by Ajit Agarkar is expected to meet on January 3 to finalize a roster that balances veteran experience with explosive young talent. After a successful victory in the 2-1 series South Africa this December, India will look to maintain their home dominance against a resilient Blackcaps side. The series also acts as a leadership test for Shubman Gillwho returns from a neck injury as captain of the team.
Fans are particularly keen to see the inclusion of domestic heavyweights who made their way through record-breaking performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Workload management remains a priority jasprit bumrah And Hardik Pandya is likely to be rested to ensure peak fitness for the global T20 showpiece in February. This predicted 15-member squad reflects a strategic mix of red-hot form and established hierarchy.
Here is the Indian squad predicted for the ODI series against New Zealand under Shubman Gill
Top order
1. Shubman Gill (captain)
International: The captain returns after a brief break with his neck injury following a challenging T20 run, which recently saw him left out of the World Cup squad. Despite a lean spell in T20Is (271 runs in his last 14 matches), he remains India’s leading ODI opener with an excellent average. He is tasked with leading this transition phase towards the 2027 World Cup.
Domestic: Gill has spent his recovery time on technical refinements at the NCA and has not played much in recent domestic List A matches. However, his previous domestic record remains the gold standard for young openers in India. He is expected to play a practice match before the series starts to find its rhythm.
2. Rohit Sharma
International: Rohit enjoyed a vintage 2025 and recently smashed a match-winning 121 against Australia followed in October by two fifties against South Africa in December. He remains the most destructive opener in the world and successfully translates his aggressive, selfless approach into consistent big scores
Domestic: To maintain match fitness during the December holidays, Rohit played Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He made an immediate impact and proved he was ready with a rapid century that silenced any talk of age-related slowdown. His domestic presence has been a huge boost for the youth of Mumbai.
3. Virat Kohli
International: Kohli is in surgical form and continues his habit of anchoring big chases with clinical precision in 2025. Recently, he played in the ODI series against South Africa where he smashed two consecutive centuries and contributed crucial runs that helped India lift the trophy. He remains the undisputed number 3 despite his retirement from shorter formats like T20Is.
Domestic: In a rare move, Kohli played for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last December to stay sharp. He dominated the group stage with a brilliant century against Andhra Pradesh and a solid half-century against Gujarat. His return to domestic white-ball cricket for the first time in years was the highlight of the season.
4. Yashasvi Jaiswal
International: Jaiswal has officially arrived in the ODI arena and underlined his 2025 with a stunning 116* against South Africa a few weeks ago. His ability to maintain a strike rate above 100 while playing traditional cricket shots has made him a regular for the side. He is currently seen as the natural successor to the senior openers.
Domestic: Jaiswal has been a prolific goalscorer for Mumbai across all formats, although his international commitments have limited his domestic appearances this year. When available he was unstoppable and recently recorded a string of high scores in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Middle Order
5. Gaikwad
International: Gaikwad cemented his reputation in the middle order by hitting a brilliant 105 against South Africa in December 2025 while batting at number 4. His adaptability to bat in the middle or top order makes him the perfect batsman for the XI. He has successfully shed the T20 specialist tag with mature ODI knocks.
Domestic: He remains a giant in domestic cricket and consistently tops the charts for Maharashtra whenever he returns from national duty. His form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been consistent where he recently smashed a century Maharashtra in return for Uttarakhandthus providing the stability his state side needs. He is currently one of the few players with an average of over 50 in List A cricket.
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Wicketkeepers
6. KL Rahul
International: Rahul is the lynchpin of the middle order and recently scored fluent 66 and 60 against South Africa in the December ODI series. His role as the main wicketkeeper-batsman allows India to play an additional bowling option, and his composure under pressure is vital. He remains the most consistent performer at number 5.
Domestic: Rahul has mainly focused on his international duties, but did take part in key domestic matches earlier this season to find his feet. His domestic figures in the white ball are legendary, and he remains the benchmark for finishing games in domestic List A. He has used the recent gap to work on his goalkeeping drills.
7. Ishan Kishan
International: Kishan is making a great comeback to the side after being picked for the T20 World Cup 2026. His last ODI appearance was a statement of intent and his ability to provide left-handed variety at the top or middle is highly appreciated. He is currently the frontrunner to replace Rishabh Pant as the explosive goalkeeping option.
Domestic: Kishan recently broke records by hitting a sensational 39-ball 125 for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Karnataka. This innings, with 14 sixes, is the second-fastest List A hundred by an Indian in history. His domestic form is so dominant at the moment that it forced the selectors’ hand
All-rounders
8. Ravindra Jadeja
International: Jadeja remains the premier all-rounder, occupying the No. 1 position in the ICC rankings for a significant part of 2025. His bowling remains incredibly economical (under 4.5 in ODIs) and his batting has become more reliable post-death. He was a key figure in India’s Champions Trophy win earlier last year.
Domestic: Jadeja rarely plays in domestic cricket due to his international schedule, but he remains the heart of the Saurashtra setup. When he returns, he dominates both disciplines. He is the ultimate safety net for the Indian team management.
9. Washington Sundar
International: Sundar is having his most consistent year yet, recently winning Player of the Series in the T20s and proving his worth in ODIs with disciplined off-spin. He has become an essential asset for his ability to bowl in the Powerplay. His lower order batting has also improved, often scoring crucial 30s at high strike rates.
Domestic: Sundar has been a force for it Tamilnaduoften opening the batting and leading the spin attack. Currently, he is considered to be the most improved all-rounder on the Indian circuit.
Spinners
10. Kuldeep Yadav
International: Kuldeep is India’s strike bowler in the middle overs and recently took 4/41 against South Africa in December. He has evolved into a smarter bowler and uses his pace variations to outwit modern batsmen. As per the latest ICC rankings, he remains one of the top three ODI bowlers in the world.
11. Axar Patel
International: The T20I vice-captain has carried that confidence into the ODI format, providing the perfect backup and partner for Jadeja. His 2025 was marked by impressive cameos and tight bowling spells in the Champions Trophy. He is also one of the most reliable fielders in the team at the moment.
Fast bowlers
12. Mohammed Shami
International: Shami could make a successful return to the ODI squad after a long injury layoff and a successful home stint. His final international appearance was marked by his trademark seam positioning and ability to take wickets in clusters. He is expected to lead the charge in the absence of the rested Bumrah.
Domestic: Shami is on fire Bengalwho recently took 20 wickets in just 4 Ranji Trophy competitions to prove his suitability. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he helped in bundling J&K for a record low total with a devastating opening spell. His domestic workload has convinced the medical team that he is ready for 50-plus cricket.
13. Mohammed Siraj
International: Siraj is the spearhead of the new ball and is known for his ability to generate bounce and movement on flat Indian courts. He recently put in a disciplined performance in Australia and South Africa, maintaining his status as a top-10 ODI bowler. His Ronaldo-esque celebration has become a common sight in international cricket.
14. Arshdeep Singh
International: Arshdeep has moved from a T20 specialist to a regular ODI starter, offering a unique left-arm angle. He was part of the Champions Trophy team and recently impressed with his improved pace in the South African series. He currently tops the charts for most wickets taken by an Indian pacer in the last twelve months.
15. Harshit Rana
International: Rana is the latest pace sensation, having made his ODI debut against England earlier in 2025 with an impressive 3/53. He has quickly built a reputation for his heavy ball and aggressive temperament. He was part of the victorious Champions Trophy team and is seen as a long-term prospect for all formats.
Domestic: Rana has been the standout pacer for Delhi and KKR and recently finished as the third best wicket-taker in the IPL for KKR. He is also a handy lower-order batsman, having scored a domestic century (122) at No. 9 for North Zone in 2023. His all-round abilities make him a very attractive option for the fifteen-man squad.
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