India will host new zealand for one High-octane three-match ODI series Starting from January 11, 2026. The series serves as an important bridge between the victorious champions trophy 2025 and upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
With matches scheduled for Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore, the selection committee was headed Ajit Agarkar A meeting is expected to take place on January 3 to finalize a team that will balance seasoned experience with explosive young talent. After a successful 2-1 series win South Africa In December, India will aim to maintain their home dominance against a strong Blackcaps team. This series also serves as a leadership test Shubman GillWho will captain the team after returning from neck injury.
Fans are especially keen to see the integration of the domestic giants who have earned their place through record-breaking performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Workload management remains a priority Jasprit Bumrah And hardik pandya He is likely to be rested to ensure peak fitness for the global T20 showpiece in February. This 15-member expected squad reflects a strategic mix of red-hot form and established hierarchy.
Here is India’s team prediction under Shubman Gill for the ODI series against New Zealand
top order
1. Shubman Gill (Captain)
international: The captain is making a short comeback from a neck injury following a challenging T20 run, where he was recently dropped from the World Cup squad. Despite poor performances in T20s (271 runs in his last 14 matches), he remains India’s leading ODI opener with an impressive average. He has been tasked with leading this transition phase towards the World Cup 2027.
domestic: Gill has spent his recovery time focusing on technical improvements at the NCA and has not featured much in the recent domestic List A games. However, his past domestic record remains the gold standard for young opening batsmen in India. It is expected that he will play practice matches to regain his rhythm before the series starts.
2. Rohit Sharma
international: Rohit enjoys vintage 2025, scores match-winning 121 recently Australia After this, two fifties were scored in October South Africa In December. He remains the most destructive opening batsman in the world, successfully converting his aggressive selfless approach into big scores consistently.
domestic: To maintain match fitness during December break, Rohit performed Mumbai In Vijay Hazare TrophyHe made a quick impact and proved his readiness with a quickfire century that silenced any talk of age-related slowness, His domestic presence has given a huge boost to the youth of Mumbai,
3. Virat Kohli
international: Kohli is in perfect form and will look to continue his habit of chasing big targets with clinical accuracy through 2025. He recently featured in the ODI series against South Africa, where he scored two consecutive centuries and scored crucial runs, helping India win the trophy. Despite his retirement from shorter formats like T20Is, he remains the undisputed No. 3.
domestic: In a rare move, Kohli played for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this December to stay sharp. He dominated the group stage with a brilliant century Andhra Pradesh and a solid half-century against GujaratHis return to domestic white-ball cricket for the first time in years has been the highlight of this season,
4. Yashasvi Jaiswal
international: Jaiswal has officially entered the ODI arena after scoring a brilliant 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 perfect fit for the team. He is currently seen as the natural successor to the senior opening batsmen.
domestic: Jaiswal has been a prolific scorer for Mumbai across all formats, although his domestic appearances have been limited this year due to his international commitments. When available, he has been unstoppable, having recorded a series of high scores recently Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy,
middle order
5. Rituraj Gaikwad
international: Gaikwad strengthened his middle-order credentials by scoring a brilliant 105 while batting at number 4 against South Africa in December 2025. His adaptability to bat in the middle or top order makes him the perfect utility batsman for the XI. He has successfully shed the tag of T20 specialist from mature ODI innings.
domestic: He remains a stalwart in domestic cricket, consistently topping the charts for Maharashtra whenever he returns from national duty. His form has been consistently good in the Vijay Hazare Trophy where he recently scored a century. Maharashtra against UttarakhandTo provide necessary stability to its state side. He is currently one of the few players to average over 50 in List A cricket.
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wicketkeepers
6. KL Rahul
international: Rahul is the lynchpin of the middle order, having recently scored innings of 66 and 60 against South Africa in the December ODI series. His role as the primary wicketkeeper-batsman allows India to play an additional bowling option, and his calmness under pressure is crucial. He remains the most consistent performer at the No. 5 position.
domestic: Rahul has mainly focused on his international duties but has featured in major red-ball domestic fixtures to find his touch at the start of the season. His white-ball domestic numbers are renowned, and he remains the benchmark for finishing games in domestic List A cricket. He has used the recent gap to work on his keeping practice.
7. Ishan Kishan
international: Kishan is making a strong comeback in the team after being selected 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 valued. He is currently the frontrunner to replace Rishabh Pant as the explosive keeper-option.
domestic: Kishan recently broke records by playing a sensational inning of 125 runs in 39 balls. Jharkhand In Vijay Hazare Trophy Against Karnataka. This innings of 14 sixes is the second fastest List A century by an Indian in history. His domestic form is so dominant at the moment that the selectors were forced to
all rounder
8. Ravindra Jadeja
international: Jadeja remains the premier all-rounder, holding the No. 1 spot 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 at the death. He was a key figure in India’s Champions Trophy win early last year.
domestic: Jadeja rarely plays in domestic cricket due to his international schedule across all formats, but he remains the heart of the Saurashtra team. Whenever he returns, discipline dominates both of them. He is the last safety net for the Indian team management.
9. Washington Sundar
international: Sundar is enjoying his most consistent year yet, recently winning the Player of the Series title in T20s and proving his worth with disciplined off-spin in ODIs. He has become an important asset due to his ability to bowl in the powerplay. His lower-order batting has also improved, often scoring crucial 30 runs at a high strike rate.
domestic: Sundar has been a force to be reckoned with Tamil NaduOften opens the batting and leads the spin attack. He is currently considered to be the best all-rounder in the Indian circuit.
spinners
10.Kuldeep Yadav
international: Kuldeep is India’s strike bowler in the middle overs, having recently taken 4 for 41 against South Africa in December. He has developed into a clever bowler, using his pace variations to outwit modern batsmen. He remains one of the top three ODI bowlers in the world according to the latest ICC rankings.
11. Akshar 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 high-impact cameos and tight bowling in the Champions Trophy. He is currently one of the most reliable fielders of the team.
fast bowler
12. Mohammed Shami
international: Shami can make a great comeback in the ODI team after a long gap due to injury and a successful domestic stint. His last international outing was marked by his trademark seam positioning and ability to take wickets in clusters. He is expected to lead the attack in the absence of the rested Bumrah.
domestic: Shami is in the news a lot BengalRecently took 20 wickets in just 4 ranji trophy To prove his fitness, he helped the team out in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match. Jammu and Kashmir A disastrous opening spell leading to a record lowest score. His domestic workload has assured the medical team that he is ready for 50-over cricket.
13. Mohammad Siraj
international: Siraj is the pioneer of the new ball, known for his ability to extract bounce and movement on flat Indian tracks. He recently delivered disciplined performances in Australia and South Africa and maintained his status as a top 10 ODI bowler. His Ronaldo-like celebrations are often seen in international cricket.
14. Arshdeep Singh
international: Arshdeep has made the transition from a T20 specialist to a regular ODI starter, offering a unique left-arm angle. He was part of the Champions Trophy squad and impressed with his improved pace in the recent South Africa series. He currently tops the list of most wickets taken by an Indian fast bowler in the last 12 months.
15. Harshit Rana
international: Rana is the latest pace sensation, having made his ODI debut in early 2025 with an impressive performance of 3/53 against England. He quickly gained fame for his heavy ball and aggressive nature. He was part of the Champions Trophy-winning team and is seen as a long-term prospect for all formats.
domestic: Rana has been an exceptional fast bowler for Delhi and KKR, most recently finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker in the IPL for KKR. He is also a useful lower-order batsman, having scored a domestic century (122) while batting at number 9 for North Zone in 2023. His all-round ability makes him a very attractive option for the 15-man squad.
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