Gill Takes Charge as India Name ODI Squad for New Zealand Challenge
India have announced their ODI squad for the New Zealand series, with Shubman Gill named captain. The team combines seasoned stars and promising youngsters, while key players Bumrah and Pandya are rested.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed India’s squad for the upcoming One Day International series against New Zealand, signalling a balanced approach between experience, youth, and player workload management.
Young opener Shubman Gill will lead the side, underlining the selectors’ confidence in his leadership potential. Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has earned a recall to the ODI setup and is set to act as vice-captain, pending final fitness approval. Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also feature in the squad, adding stability and depth to India’s batting order.
The wicketkeeping responsibilities will be shared between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, giving the team tactical flexibility. In the all-rounders’ group, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are expected to play vital roles, contributing across departments.
India’s bowling unit will be spearheaded by Mohammed Siraj, who returns to the ODI fold. He will be supported by emerging fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna, while Kuldeep Yadav will lead the spin attack, especially in conditions favoring slow bowlers.
As part of a long-term planning strategy, experienced campaigners Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have been rested to manage their workload ahead of major international assignments.
With both India and New Zealand fielding competitive lineups, the ODI series promises high-intensity cricket. For the Indian team, the tour will serve as a crucial platform to assess squad depth, fine-tune combinations, and build momentum for future global events.
