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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's ODI and Test squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour. The biggest talking point is the selection of two different squads for the five-match ODI series. Shubman Gill will captain India in the first three matches, while Shreyas Iyer will lead the team in the final two ODIs.
Gill and KL Rahul are set to leave the ODI squad after the third match to focus on Test preparations. Ishan Kishan has been named vice-captain for the final two ODIs. Meanwhile, fast bowler Akash Deep has returned to India's Test squad after recovering from a lower-back stress fracture.
The tour is scheduled to feature five T20Is, five ODIs and two Test matches. Here is the complete squad list, the reason behind the two ODI squads and the full tour schedule.
Why Did BCCI Pick Two Different ODI Squads for New Zealand Tour?
BCCI's decision to select separate squads for the ODI series is linked to the team's preparation for the upcoming Test matches and the management of players across formats.
India will play five ODIs before beginning the two-match Test series. With the first Test scheduled for November 19, Gill and Rahul are expected to focus on red-ball cricket after the third ODI.
Shreyas Iyer will take over the captaincy for the final two matches, with Ishan Kishan serving as his deputy. The revised squad also includes Tilak Varma, Aaqib Nabi, Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur.
This arrangement gives India additional options for the final matches while allowing key players to prepare for the Test series.
India ODI Squad for First 3 Matches: Shubman Gill to Lead
Shubman Gill will lead India in the opening three ODIs against New Zealand. Experienced batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are also part of the squad, while KL Rahul has been selected as the wicketkeeper.
Shreyas Iyer will serve as vice-captain during the first three matches. The squad also features all-rounders Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy, along with pacers Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna.
India's Squad for the First Three ODIs
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | Captain |
| Rohit Sharma | Batter |
| Virat Kohli | Batter |
| Shreyas Iyer | Vice-Captain |
| KL Rahul | Wicketkeeper |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| Naman Dhir | All-rounder |
| Anshul Kamboj | Bowler |
| Gurnoor Brar | Bowler |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batter |
| Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
| Ishan Kishan | Wicketkeeper |
| Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
| Prasidh Krishna | Bowler |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
India ODI Squad for Last 2 Matches: Shreyas Iyer Named Captain
Shreyas Iyer will take charge of India for the fourth and fifth ODIs after Gill and Rahul leave the squad. Ishan Kishan has been appointed vice-captain and will provide a wicketkeeping option.
Tilak Varma is among the notable additions to the squad for the final two games. Aaqib Nabi, Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur have also been included.
India's Squad for the Fourth and Fifth ODIs
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shreyas Iyer | Captain |
| Rohit Sharma | Batter |
| Virat Kohli | Batter |
| Tilak Varma | Batter |
| Ishan Kishan | Vice-Captain and Wicketkeeper |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| Naman Dhir | All-rounder |
| Aaqib Nabi | Player |
| Gurnoor Brar | Bowler |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batter |
| Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
| Kumar Kushagra | Wicketkeeper |
| Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
| Yash Thakur | Bowler |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
India Test Squad for New Zealand: Akash Deep Returns
India have also announced their squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand. Shubman Gill will captain the team, while KL Rahul has been named vice-captain.
The major highlight is the return of fast bowler Akash Deep, who has recovered from a lower-back stress fracture. Anshul Kamboj has also been included in the squad.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna strengthen the pace attack. Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav provide spin-bowling options, while Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel are the wicketkeepers.
India's Test Squad for the New Zealand Tour
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | Captain |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter |
| KL Rahul | Vice-Captain |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batter |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Anshul Kamboj | Bowler |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Bowler |
| Prasidh Krishna | Bowler |
| Akash Deep | Bowler |
| Sai Sudharsan | Batter |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
India vs New Zealand 2026 Schedule: T20I, ODI and Test Dates
India's tour is scheduled to begin with a five-match T20I series on October 22. The ODI series will start on November 4, followed by the two-match Test series from November 19.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | October 22 | Christchurch |
| 2nd T20I | October 24 | Christchurch |
| 3rd T20I | October 27 | Wellington |
| 4th T20I | October 30 | Auckland |
| 5th T20I | November 1 | Hamilton |
| 1st ODI | November 4 | Auckland |
| 2nd ODI | November 7 | Wellington |
| 3rd ODI | November 10 | Hamilton |
| 4th ODI | November 13 | Mount Maunganui |
| 5th ODI | November 15 | Mount Maunganui |
| 1st Test | November 19 | Wellington |
| 2nd Test | November 27 | Christchurch |
India Squad Highlights: New Captains, Key Changes and Full Team List
Two ODI captains: Shubman Gill will lead India in the first three matches, while Shreyas Iyer will captain the final two.
Gill and Rahul to leave the ODI squad: Both players are expected to focus on Test preparations after the third ODI.
Ishan Kishan named vice-captain: He will serve as Iyer's deputy in the final two matches.
Akash Deep returns to the Test squad: The fast bowler is back after recovering from a lower-back stress fracture.
A busy international schedule: India are scheduled to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests during the tour.
India's New Zealand Tour: Key Players and Major Squad Changes
The announcement of India's ODI and Test squads has brought a significant change to the leadership arrangements for the 50-over series. Gill will captain the team in the opening matches before Iyer takes over for the final two ODIs.
Akash Deep's return adds another pace-bowling option for the Test series, while the inclusion of experienced international players and emerging talent gives India depth across formats.
The decision to split the ODI squads also highlights the importance of managing players' workloads and preparing for Test cricket. India's performances across the three formats will be closely watched during the New Zealand tour.
