IND vs NZ 2026 ODI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian team for the India vs New Zealand ODI series on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The command of the team is in the hands of Shubman Gill. Shreyaar Iyer, who was out of injury, has returned to the team. Apart from this, Mohammad Siraj has also returned to this team. However, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and star bowler Jasprit Bumrah are missing from the 15-member team. The first ODI match between India vs New Zealand will be played on 11 January. Meanwhile, as soon as BCCI announced Team India, former Indian player and commentator Aakash Chopra got angry about the 15-member team. He has asked many serious questions to the selectors regarding team selection.
Why was Pant not played against South Africa?-Aakash Chopra
As soon as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the team for the 3-match ODI series, former Indian player Aakash Chopra has raised many questions on the selectors. Posting on X, he wrote, ‘When he got the opportunity against South Africa, why was Pant not played at number 4? Since you are keeping him as a backup wicketkeeper, it would have been a wiser move to play him in Iyer’s absence.
Why not feed Nitish Kumar Reddy?-Aakash Chopra
After the announcement of the Indian team, Aakash Chopra posted on X and wrote, ‘Rituraj did not get a chance due to Iyer’s return. Tilak also because of Gill’s return. He further wrote, ‘Nitish Kumar Reddy is so important, then why doesn’t he get a chance to play? Even when India is playing with three fast bowlers? Will he get a chance to play now?
Indian team for New Zealand ODI series
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
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