Now Reading: India Name Split ODI Squads for New Zealand Tour as Test Preparations Loom
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India Name Split ODI Squads for New Zealand Tour as Test Preparations Loom
India have thrown a selection curveball. For the five-match ODI series in New Zealand, the selectors have named a split squad, with one group for the first three games and another for the last two. The reason is simple: a crucial Test series follows almost immediately, and some players need red-ball time.
India Pick Split Squads for the New Zealand ODIs
The squad was announced on Friday, and the structure is the headline. Shubman Gill captains the group for the first three ODIs. Shreyas Iyer takes over as captain for the fourth and fifth matches.
The gap between formats is tiny. The fifth ODI in Tauranga is on November 15, and the first Test begins in Wellington four days later. That is why a few regular India players may prepare with the red ball ahead of a World Test Championship series.
Injury and Replacement News
Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the ODI squad as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Mohammed Siraj has been called up to replace the pacer.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been inducted, but for the first match only. The listing carries a fitness caveat, marked as subject to fitness.
ODI Squad for the First Three Matches
The first-phase group is led by Gill and packed with experience. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul headline the batting. Ishan Kishan is the wicketkeeper.
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Batters | Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Naman Dhir |
| Wicketkeeper | Ishan Kishan |
| All-rounders | Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy (first ODI only) |
| Bowlers | Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna* |
*Subject to fitness. Prasidh has been ruled out and Siraj called up in his place.
ODI Squad for the Fourth and Fifth Matches
The second phase brings a fresh leadership look. Iyer is captain and Ishan Kishan is vice-captain and wicketkeeper. Tilak Varma, Auqib Nabi, Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur come into the mix.
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Vice-captain / WK | Ishan Kishan |
| Batters | Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Naman Dhir |
| Wicketkeeper | Kumar Kushagra |
| All-rounder | Axar Patel |
| Bowlers | Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Yash Thakur |
Rohit, Kohli, Axar, Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj, Arshdeep, Ishan, Siraj and Kuldeep feature in both lists. That gives the squad a clear core across all five games.
NZ vs IND ODI Series Schedule
The series starts at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4. It then moves through Wellington and Hamilton before finishing at Bay Oval in Tauranga. The last two ODIs are both at Bay Oval, on November 13 and November 15.
| Match | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Eden Park, Auckland | November 4 |
| 2nd ODI | HNRY Stadium, Wellington | Between November 4 and 13 |
| 3rd ODI | Seddon Park, Hamilton | Between November 4 and 13 |
| 4th ODI | Bay Oval, Tauranga | November 13 |
| 5th ODI | Bay Oval, Tauranga | November 15 |
Match Timings
All five ODIs start at 3.00 pm local time, which is 7.30 am IST. That makes for an early morning for fans back home.
The Test Series Looms Large
Two Tests follow straight after the ODIs. The first starts in Wellington on November 19, and the second finishes in Christchurch on December 1. With so little turnaround, workload management is the story behind this selection.
Reports have also suggested Jasprit Bumrah is doubtful for the ODI series, with the pacer prioritising Tests over white-ball cricket. It fits the wider theme: India are balancing a high-stakes red-ball challenge with a full white-ball series.
The split approach lets India test depth, rotate leadership and protect key players. For fans, it means two captains, a fresh batch of names and plenty to debate before a ball is bowled in Auckland.
