A senior player’s ODI future in serious doubt. A new captaincy option emerging. A key all-rounder’s fitness becoming a growing concern. India’s ODI squads for the New Zealand series carry strong signals about the team’s direction ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
The selectors have named separate squads for the first three and final two matches. Beyond the immediate opportunities, these selections offer clues about whose role is growing, who must prove himself again and who may be slipping out of the plans.
Here are the five biggest takeaways.
1. India Appear to Have Moved Beyond Ravindra Jadeja in ODIs
Ravindra Jadeja’s absence from both squads is the strongest indication that his ODI career may be nearing its end.
His performances against West Indies raised serious questions about whether his bowling alone still justified a place. His fielding also appeared less sharp, with the quick reactions that once defined his game looking less reliable.
Leaving him out of both groups suggests that India are looking beyond him rather than simply resting him for part of the series. With the next World Cup in southern Africa, his recent ODI performances make a return increasingly difficult.
The selection message is clear: Jadeja’s place in India’s ODI plans can no longer be taken for granted.
2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Must Prove His Case for an ODI Return
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s T20I comeback has not brought an immediate ODI recall. His absence suggests that the selectors still need evidence that he can handle the demands of the longer white-ball format.
He has not played List-A cricket since December 2023. Delivering four overs in a T20 match and maintaining effectiveness across a 10-over ODI spell are different challenges.
Strong T20I performances would strengthen his case, but domestic List-A cricket would provide a clearer test of his fitness and ability to sustain longer spells.
His return to international cricket could therefore become a route towards ODI consideration. With India still searching for a settled pace partner for Jasprit Bumrah, the opportunity exists—but Bhuvneshwar must first show that his body and performances can meet those demands.
3. Ishan Kishan Has Entered the Captaincy Conversation
Ishan Kishan’s appointment as vice-captain for the fourth and fifth ODIs is more than an additional responsibility. It suggests that the selectors are willing to assess him as a leadership option.
That could become relevant in T20Is as well. Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy has come under scrutiny following defeats against England and Ireland, while West Indies have drawn level at 2–2 in the ongoing series.
India’s difficulty in producing convincing results against stronger opposition makes the development of another captaincy option significant.
If results do not improve and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rise increases competition for batting places, Iyer’s position could face further pressure. In that situation, Kishan could emerge as an alternative. His ODI vice-captaincy does not guarantee that move, but it puts him in the leadership picture.
4. Hardik Pandya’s Fitness Is a Serious World Cup Concern
Hardik Pandya’s absence from both ODI squads is becoming a major concern for India’s balance.
His comeback has suffered repeated fitness setbacks, leaving uncertainty over when he will return to competitive cricket. India need more than his batting or bowling separately: they need the flexibility he provides by doing both.
The 2023 World Cup showed how his absence could force changes to the combination. Losing a seam-bowling all-rounder reduces the captain’s options and makes it harder to balance batting depth with enough bowling cover.
If Hardik is unavailable for the 2027 World Cup, India could face that problem again. Establishing a dependable alternative must therefore be a priority.
5. Kumar Kushagra Adds Another Challenge for Rishabh Pant
Kumar Kushagra’s selection for the final two ODIs brings another wicketkeeper into India’s plans.
Kishan is already firmly involved, and Kushagra’s inclusion adds further competition. For the young Jharkhand wicketkeeper, this is an opportunity to establish himself as a genuine option.
Rishabh Pant’s injury complicates any direct comparison. Test regulars have also been left out of the final two ODIs, so it cannot be assumed that a fit Pant would necessarily have featured in that group.
Even so, Kushagra’s arrival means Pant faces another challenger. The selectors now have one more wicketkeeper to assess as they shape their future ODI combinations.
India’s Squad for the First Three ODIs
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna* and Kuldeep Yadav.
Prasidh Krishna’s selection is subject to fitness clearance.
India’s Squad for the Fourth and Fifth ODIs
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper and vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.
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