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Team India Selection: Team India announced today for the ODI series, will these 15 players get a place?

Sanjeev Kumar

khelja|03-01-2026

Team announced today for series against New ZealandImage Credit source: PTI

At last the day has come when Team India will be announced for the first series of the new year. Saturday, January 3 i.e. today there will be a meeting of the BCCI Senior Men's Selection Committee headed by Ajit Agarkar, in which Team India will be selected for the ODI series against New Zealand and then the announcement will be made. Considering the upcoming T20 World Cup, this ODI series is not of much importance but considering the future of some players in Team India, this selection is going to be very important.

The 3-match ODI series between India and New Zealand will start from January 11. Everyone's eyes are on Team India's announcement for this series. Unlike the last 2 ODI series, this time the focus is not on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, rather the eyes are on some players who have been in and out of the team continuously. A big name in this is Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Shami. While Pant has been in the team, Shami has been outside.

Pant-Ishan or Jurel: Who will get the chance?

Pant was a part of the Indian squad in the last ODI series against South Africa but he did not get a chance in a single match.

But recent reports have claimed that leave alone getting a chance to play against New Zealand, his chances of being selected for this series are very less. In his place, the selectors can give preference to Ishan Kishan, who made a shocking comeback in the T20 team and got the direct ticket for T20 World Cup 2026.

Ishaan has recently proved his excellent form by scoring a century in just 34 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. But will only Ishan be selected or can Dhruv Jurel also be selected as KL Rahul's backup? At present, all indications are towards the return of Ishan Kishan and after the ODI World Cup, he can return to the Indian team in this format for the first time.

Will Shami and Siraj return?

There is a big question regarding the future of Mohammed Shami. Shami has not played any match for the Indian team since Champions Trophy 2025. He did not get a place on the England tour due to fitness and since then he has been trying to make a comeback. Meanwhile, his relationship with Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar has also been seen deteriorating, evidence of which has been found in the statements contradicting each other's words and claims on the public platform.

But during this period, Shami has continued his amazing work in domestic cricket and has taken wickets in every format.

In such a situation, Shami's claim looks strong. But will Agarkar give him a chance to make a comeback or the doors are now completely closed for Shami, this decision will be taken today. The hope is that he will get a chance. Apart from him, this selection is also important for Mohammad Siraj. He has also been out of the ODI and T20 team for some time. At present his card has been completely cut off from T20 but he is still a strong contender in ODI.

It is believed that he was given rest only from the last 2 ODI series. In such a situation, there is hope for his return.

Will the stars of T20 team get rest?

As far as the rest of the players are concerned, most of the same faces who were part of the South Africa series will be seen. It has names like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal, while captain Shubman Gill will return from this series. There is a possibility that players like Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Axar Patel selected for the T20 World Cup may be given rest. However, Kuldeep Yadav can be seen playing this series. The famous Krishna may also make a comeback.

India's probable squad

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Verma. (Shreyas Iyer- Dependent on fitness)