Gill Back as India ODI Captain; Iyer Named Vice-Captain for New Zealand Series

India has settled on familiar leadership and trusted experience for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, with Shubman Gill set to return as captain when the 3-match contest begins on January 11.

Gill missed the recent South Africa ODIs after suffering a neck spasm during the Kolkata Test, but his recovery has progressed without issue, and the selectors have restored him to the leadership role. Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain, subject to final medical clearance.

Iyer has not featured in a competitive match since October after sustaining a spleen injury on the Australia tour. Since then, he has completed a full return-to-play programme at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He batted pain-free during a practice fixture earlier this month and is likely to slot straight back into India’s middle order.

Mohammed Siraj also returns to the ODI setup after sitting out the South Africa series. The fast bowler last played the format in Australia and has remained in rhythm through domestic cricket. His inclusion bolsters a pace group that also features Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana, with Kuldeep Yadav leading the spin options.

Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, has been rested as part of workload management ahead of the T20 World Cup, which begins in early February. The BCCI confirmed that he has not yet received clearance to bowl full ten-over spells, prompting selectors to take a cautious approach.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue as senior players, with Yashasvi Jaiswal offering flexibility at the top. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant provide wicketkeeping options, while Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar handle all-round duties alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy.

India begins the series in Vadodara on January 11 before matches in Rajkot and Indore. With one more ODI assignment scheduled after this, the New Zealand series offers returning players a chance to settle quickly and reassert their place before focus shifts fully to the World Cup.

India ODI squad

Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana.