The Board of Control for Cricket in India is expected to announce the Indian ODI squad for the New Zealand tour in the first week of January, with January 3 or 4 as likely dates.
According to TOI journalist Gaurav Gupta, the selection meeting will be held online, after which the selection should be made public. India will begin their tour of New Zealand on January 11, with three ODIs followed by five T20Is.
India will go into the series in strong white-ball form. They recently dominated South Africa in both ODIs and T20Is, giving the selectors confidence in picking the squad for a new overseas challenge.
The T20I squad for the New Zealand tour has already been announced. It is the same group that is backing India as the core for the 2026 T2026 World Cup, showing clarity in planning for the shortest format.
The focus now shifts completely to the ODI setup. One of the biggest talking points is the possible return of Shubman Gill, who is recovering from a neck injury. When fully fit, Gill is expected to return to the top spot.
Senior players are also in the spotlight. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been in good touch during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, using domestic cricket to stay match-ready before international duty.
Their form has strengthened India’s batting depth and gives the team management more options as they prepare for the conditions in New Zealand, where seam and swing often play a major role.
On the other hand, New Zealand has named a second-series ODI squad for the home series. Several senior players are missing, while lesser-known names are given a chance at international level.
This has reinforced the feeling that India are starting as favourites, although foreign tours are never easy. The series will continue to be seen as a key test of India’s strength and adaptability.
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