The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to announce the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand on January 3, 2026. The series, commencing on January 11, 2026, holds significance as India's final ODI commitment before the T20 World Cup.

All eyes are on the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, as they deliberate on key player inclusions and exclusions. A major point of discussion revolves around veteran pacer Mohammed Shami's potential return to the ODI squad. Shami, who last played for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy, has been in impressive form in domestic cricket. His experience and wicket-taking ability could prove valuable, especially with Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested to manage his workload ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Another area of intense speculation is the fate of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Pant's place in the ODI setup has come under scrutiny, particularly with the emergence of strong contenders like Dhruv Jurel and the potential return of Ishan Kishan. Pant has not played an ODI for India since August 2024. While he was part of the squad for the recent series against South Africa, he did not feature in any matches. His recent form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been decent, but not exceptional.

KL Rahul is currently the preferred first-choice wicketkeeper, further complicating Pant's chances of securing a place in the squad. If Pant is not selected, the selectors may turn to Dhruv Jurel, who has been in outstanding form in domestic cricket, or recall Ishan Kishan, who recently topped the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy run charts.

Shubman Gill is expected to captain the ODI side, marking his return after missing the series against South Africa due to a neck injury. Senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are also likely to return, adding experience and stability to the batting lineup. However, Hardik Pandya is likely to be rested for the ODI series to manage his workload ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Shreyas Iyer's return to the team is also uncertain, as he recovers from a spleen injury sustained during the Australia series in October. If Iyer is unavailable, Ruturaj Gaikwad could slot in at number four. Mohammed Siraj's selection is also uncertain, having been dropped for the series against South Africa.

The ODI series will be played across three venues: Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara (January 11), Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot (January 14), and Holkar Stadium, Indore (January 18).