Mumbai, Dec 30: India’s senior men’s cricket team is set to welcome back Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on January 11 in Vadodara. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the final squad shortly, with selectors considering adjustments to balance experience, form, and player workload.
Gill, who was sidelined from recent white-ball fixtures due to a neck injury, is anticipated to return to India’s top order, providing stability and aggression at the top. His comeback is seen as crucial for reinforcing the batting lineup ahead of key international tournaments next year. Meanwhile, Iyer, recovering from a significant injury sustained earlier in 2025, has resumed full training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and is reported to be in good form, raising hopes of his inclusion in the middle order.
Selectors are carefully weighing the combination of experienced campaigners such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with emerging talents to ensure the squad remains competitive and dynamic. Workload management is also a priority, as the team prepares for a packed international calendar in 2026.
The three-match ODI series against New Zealand will serve as a vital platform to test squad combinations, assess player readiness, and provide emerging players opportunities to stake a claim for future tournaments. Following the ODIs, a five-match T20I series will further enable the team management to evaluate players’ adaptability in the shortest format of the game.
The return of Gill and Iyer is expected to bolster India’s batting strength, adding depth and flexibility to the lineup. With both players fully fit and match-ready, India aims to assert dominance on home soil and fine-tune its preparations ahead of upcoming ICC events in 2026.
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