Why Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer will join India’s ODI squad late for New Zealand series
Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer will join the India squad later than planned ahead of the ODI series against the New Zealand cricket team. The delayed arrival is due to prior commitments and both players are expected to be ready before the opening match.
The Indian cricket team will gather in Baroda today for the opening match of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled for January 11. However, Rishabh Pant and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer will join the team a little later. Both players will participate in the final league stage matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 8 for their respective teams, Delhi and Mumbai.
Pant was allowed to arrive late in Baroda despite being the captain of the Delhi team in the tournament. He was named as the backup wicketkeeper to KL Rahul in the India squad and showed good form in the domestic 50-over competition, amassing 212 runs in six matches at an average of 42.4, including two fifties.
There were rumors that he might be omitted from the ODI squad, making room for Ishan Kishan in that position. However, a report from Cricbuzz suggests that the selectors found no justification for his exclusion, especially as he has not played a single match since August 2024 despite being included in the squad several times.
It is also believed that the selectors have recognized Pant’s commitment to domestic cricket.
Watching Iyer’s fitness
As for Shreyas Iyer, he is also expected to play in the last league match against Punjab in Mumbai on January 8. The Center of Excellence is monitoring his fitness as he tries to recover from spleen surgery as he has not represented India since October 2025. Iyer made a comeback against Himachal Pradesh, scoring 82 off just 53 balls, hitting 10 fours and three sixes.
He has been conditionally included in India’s squad for the ODIs against New Zealand, but looks likely to feature in the series opener at this point. Meanwhile, Team India will hold its first net session in Baroda on January 8.
India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
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