The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the Indian squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The series will be kicked off from January 11, with the first match slated to be played in Vadodara. While the announcement for the ODI team is awaited, the delay is heightened by the already announced Indian T20I squad for the New Zealand series and the ICC T20 World Cup, which will be played in February.
As per Times of India journalist Gaurav Gupta, the national selectors would conduct a virtual meeting on either January 3 or 4 to finalize the ODI squad. Clarity is expected to come in soon as time before the series commencement is limited, especially with some significant selection calls in sight.
India's Recent ODI Form and Injury Updates
India's last outing for ODIs was against South Africa at home, where they won the series 2-1. KL Rahul captained the side in the series because Shubman Gill was injured. Gill was expected to be back for the New Zealand ODIs, further solidifying the top order, having missed the last two T20Is against South Africa due to a foot issue.
The team management will be looking to carry the momentum from a successful home season, and the series against New Zealand provides yet another opportunity to hone combinations before the bigger assignments.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad or Ishan Kishan? A Tough Call
One of the major talking points ahead of the squad announcement has been selection between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan. Both batters have been in good form and have a strong case for selection.
Gaikwad domed the century in the second ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. He played an unbeaten power-packed knock of 38 runs from just 13 balls against Sikkim in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, showing his ability to score at a brisk pace.
Kishan, on the contrary, scored a century against Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and was also the leading scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs under his belt. The selectors will have to weigh whether form in different formats is the preferred criteria over his recent ODI form.
Shreyas Iyer’s Fitness Under Watch
Another interesting question will be whether Shreyas Iyer is back in the mix. The Mumbai batter hasn't played competitive cricket since sustaining an injury during the Australia tour. The 31-year-old was recently seen batting at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is working on regaining full match fitness.
Before his injury, Iyer scored 72 runs in the first two ODIs against Australia. Should he be found fit, his influence would further consolidate India's middle order, given his experience and form in ODIs. Iyer's progress is likely to come under the selector's microscope ahead of a final decision.
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