02 January,2026 04:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj (Pic: File Pic)
The Team India duo of Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj is expected to be the big talking point on Saturday when the selectors pick the 15-member squad for the ODI series against New Zealand.
With no major shakeups expected in the squad that defeated South Africa, two specific concerns could be addressed by Ajit Agarkar's selection committee.
The first point could be Pant's selection as the second wicketkeeper-batsman, as Ishan Kishan is enjoying his stunning form in the middle order.
Whether it is Agarkar or head coach Gautam Gambhir, both have shown an inclination to select personnel based on team combination. Therefore, in T20 Internationals, they have opted for wicketkeeper-openers such as Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan.
Pant, since the arrival of Gambhir as head coach, has played just one ODI between July 2024 to December 2025.
The second discussion could be the selection of pacers for the 50-over format series. Lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya are expected to be rested, considering the T20 World Cup 2026 assignment.
It will be interesting to see if the selectors opt to give a break to the other two speedsters, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. Mohammed Siraj, who was once a regular face in India's ODI setup, has been sidelined from the format's team after the ODI World Cup 2023.
He hasn't played in the first four rounds of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy either, but might appear for Hyderabad in two of the last three rounds.
The first ODI match between Team India and New Zealand is scheduled to be played on January 11 at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Gujarat. The second match between the teams will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on January 14.
The third and final clash between the "Men in Blue" and the "Black Caps" will be played at the Holkar Stadium in Madhya Pradesh on January 18.
After the conclusion of the ODI series, both teams will play the five-match T20I series, which will also serve as a preparatory contest ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
(With PTI Inputs)
