The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the rosters for both the Test and One‑Day International (ODI) series that will be contested in New Zealand later this year. The tour comprises five T20 Internationals, five ODIs and two Tests, with the limited‑overs fixtures slated to begin in early November and the red‑ball matches starting later in the month.
Test squad composition and notable inclusions
India’s 16‑member Test squad features a blend of established players and returning pacers. Shubman Gill has been retained as captain, while Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice‑captain) and Devdutt Padikkal round out the top order. The wicket‑keeping duties are shared between Rishabh Pant, who remains subject to fitness clearance after a left‑rib injury, and Dhruv Jurel.
Fast‑bowling selections include the return of Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj. Deep, who missed action following a lower‑back stress fracture, last represented India on the 2025 England tour. Kamboj re‑joins the side after being dropped following his Test debut in England the previous year. Both are also part of the India A squad that will face New Zealand A in three multi‑day matches ahead of the main series, providing them with valuable match practice.
Veteran all‑rounder Ravindra Jadeja is omitted from the Test squad, while the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will feature exclusively in the Test series. The remaining bowlers are Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and the newly added Akash Deep. All-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan complete the contingent, with Pant and Prasidh Krishna both awaiting final fitness confirmation.
ODI squad split and leadership changes
The ODI line‑up is divided into two distinct groups, reflecting a planned shift in captaincy. For the first three matches, Shubman Gill will lead the side, supported by Shreyas Iyer as his deputy. The fourth and fifth ODIs will see Iyer assume the captaincy, with Ishan Kishan elevated to vice‑captain for those games.
Senior batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are confirmed for all five ODIs. KL Rahul, listed in the squad for the opening trio, will transition to the Test series after the limited‑overs fixtures. The batting order also includes Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma – who returns after last playing 50‑over cricket in December 2025 – and the left‑handed newcomer Kumar Kushagra, who earns his maiden ODI call‑up for the final two matches.
All‑round contributions are expected from Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Naman Dhir, who appear in both ODI squads. Fast‑bowling options feature Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav and the debutant Yash Thakur, who also receives his first ODI call‑up for the latter two games. Auqib Nabi is added for the final pair of ODIs, while Gurnoor Brar, despite recent form, is not selected for the Test squad but remains in the ODI pool.
Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are left out of the ODI squads. Bhuvneshwar, however, was added to India’s squad for the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru and is expected to feature in the T20I series against New Zealand that begins on October 22.
Tour schedule and context
The five‑match ODI series kicks off on November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland, with subsequent fixtures at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on November 7, Hamilton’s Seddon Park on November 10, and two matches in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15. All games are scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. IST. The Test series follows, commencing on November 19.
In addition to the red‑ball and 50‑over contests, India will contest five T20 Internationals against New Zealand, beginning on October 22. The T20I squad includes Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was not named in the ODI line‑up but will feature in the shortest format.
The selections reflect a balance between experience and the integration of fresh talent. The return of Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj signals the board’s intent to broaden its fast‑bowling options ahead of the New Zealand conditions, while the inclusion of debutants Kumar Kushagra, Yash Thakur and Auqib Nabi highlights a pathway for emerging players.
With senior pacers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar excluded from the ODI squads, the responsibility for leading the attack rests on Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna and the returning Deep. The leadership rotation between Gill and Iyer aims to provide both players with exposure to captaincy responsibilities across formats.
As the tour approaches, the BCCI will monitor the fitness of players listed as conditional, notably Rishabh Pant and Prasidh Krishna, to ensure a full‑strength contingent is available for the challenges posed by New Zealand’s pitches.
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