The BCCI has officially announced India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on January 11. Shubman Gill makes his return to the ODI setup and will lead the side after missing the previous series against South Africa.
One of the major takeaways from the squad announcement is the return of Shreyas Iyer, who has been out of action due to injury. The middle-order batter has been included subject to fitness clearance and is expected to add much-needed stability to the batting lineup.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Dropped Despite Strong Form In a surprising decision, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been left out of the squad, despite scoring a century in the ODI series against South Africa. The move has sparked debate among fans and experts, especially considering his recent performances in the 50-over format.
Why Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah Miss Out The absence of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah has raised several questions, as both players are currently fit. However, the BCCI clarified that the decision was taken as part of a workload management plan.
According to the board, Hardik Pandya has not yet been cleared by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to bowl a full 10-over spell in ODIs. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup approaching, the management has chosen to manage his workload carefully.
As for Bumrah, the pace spearhead has not played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup final. The team management is keen to preserve his fitness for major upcoming tournaments.
No Place for Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Shami Despite strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ishan Kishan has once again been overlooked. The selectors have opted to go with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as the two wicketkeeping options.
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who has been out of international cricket for a while, also failed to make a comeback. This decision appears to put serious doubt over his future in India’s white-ball plans.
Mohammed Siraj Returns to the ODI Setup On a positive note, Mohammed Siraj has been recalled to the ODI squad after missing the South Africa series. With Bumrah unavailable, Siraj’s experience is expected to play a key role in leading India’s pace attack against New Zealand.
