Not Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer to lead India in 4th and 5th ODI against New Zealand; here's why
toi
newspoint|12-11-2026
Shreyas Iyer will lead India for the first time in ODIs when they take on New Zealand in the fourth match of the five-match series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday. The Indian batter will also have a point to prove with the bat after his struggles against the short ball resurfaced during the series.
India lead 2-0 in the series and will look to seal it with a win in the remaining two matches. New Zealand, meanwhile, need to win both games to draw the series after the third ODI was abandoned.
Why will Shreyas Iyer captain India in the 4th and 5th ODIs?
Iyer will captain India in the final two ODIs after regular skipper Shubman Gill left the squad to prepare for the upcoming two-match Test series, which begins on November 19. Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and fast bowler Anshul Kamboj have also left the team to focus on their preparations for the longer format.
Iyer, who is India's full-time T20I captain, was appointed Gill's deputy in the ODI team in October 2025. More than a year later, he will get his first opportunity to lead India in the 50-over format.
He has already captained India in 26 T20Is since making his captaincy debut against Ireland in Belfast on June 26, 2026.
Iyer will have Ishan Kishan as his deputy for the fourth ODI. The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who was part of the squad but did not feature in the first three matches, is likely to open the innings on Friday.
The fourth ODI will be played on November 13, while the fifth and final match is scheduled for November 15 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
India lead 2-0 in the series and will look to seal it with a win in the remaining two matches. New Zealand, meanwhile, need to win both games to draw the series after the third ODI was abandoned.
Why will Shreyas Iyer captain India in the 4th and 5th ODIs?
Iyer will captain India in the final two ODIs after regular skipper Shubman Gill left the squad to prepare for the upcoming two-match Test series, which begins on November 19. Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and fast bowler Anshul Kamboj have also left the team to focus on their preparations for the longer format.
Iyer, who is India's full-time T20I captain, was appointed Gill's deputy in the ODI team in October 2025. More than a year later, he will get his first opportunity to lead India in the 50-over format.
He has already captained India in 26 T20Is since making his captaincy debut against Ireland in Belfast on June 26, 2026.
Iyer will have Ishan Kishan as his deputy for the fourth ODI. The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who was part of the squad but did not feature in the first three matches, is likely to open the innings on Friday.
The fourth ODI will be played on November 13, while the fifth and final match is scheduled for November 15 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Related News
Latest Newsmore
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia rules out IPL expansion for now
12-Nov-2026 • Samira Vishwas
BCCI announces India A squads for England A series; Anushka Sharma, Minnu Mani to lead
12-Nov-2026 • toi
T Natarajan out of Tamil Nadu squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27
12-Nov-2026 • Samira Vishwas
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Karan Sharma eyes redemption as UP captain
12-Nov-2026 • Samira Vishwas
Hardik Pandya's IPL salary details: Season-wise earnings after trade for Punjab Kings in IPL 2027
12-Nov-2026 • Samira Vishwas