Key Discussions Ahead of India's ODI Series Against New Zealand

Selection Dilemmas for the Upcoming ODI Series

As the Indian selectors prepare to announce a 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11, the focus will likely be on Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj.

While the team that recently triumphed over South Africa is expected to remain largely unchanged, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar may consider two significant factors.

The first point of discussion could be Pant's role as the second wicketkeeper, especially with Ishan Kishan performing exceptionally well in the middle order for Jharkhand, and Dhruv Jurel having scored a remarkable century for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket.

Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir prioritize player selection based on team composition. This approach has led to the inclusion of openers like Sanju Samson and Kishan for T20 internationals.

In the ODI format, the team requires a wicketkeeper who can bat comfortably at the fifth or sixth position.

Since Gambhir took over as head coach, Pant has played only one ODI match between July 2024 and December 2025. His record of just 31 ODIs over the past eight years, with an average below 35, does not reflect his true potential as a competitive player.

There is no doubt that Pant has a greater impact compared to Kishan and Jurel.

However, his recent shot selection in the Test match against South Africa in Guwahati did not impress either the head coach or the selection committee. Yet, excluding him from the team without giving him a fair chance could raise uncomfortable questions.

The second crucial aspect is the selection of fast bowlers for the three-match series.

Considering the upcoming T20 World Cup, it is likely that Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah will be rested, but it will be interesting to see if the selectors also choose to rest the other two fast bowlers, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, who participated in the recent series against South Africa.

Siraj was not selected for the Champions Trophy due to circumstances. He was part of the team for the overseas series against Australia but was overlooked for the home series against South Africa.

He has not played in the first four phases of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy but may participate in two of the last three phases for Hyderabad.

It is perplexing to exclude him from the 50-over format after he was a regular member of the team leading up to the last ODI World Cup in 2023.

Regarding Mohammed Shami, he has been playing all formats for Bengal after returning from injury. Some believe his time in international cricket may have passed.

Communication between Shami and the selection committee has also been notably unclear.

Among the standout performers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, two key contenders are Sarfaraz Khan (batting at number four) and Devdutt Padikkal (an opener).

With Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal securing their spots in the team, it may be challenging to provide Padikkal with an opportunity.

Sarfaraz Khan has excelled in domestic cricket, but Ruturaj Gaikwad has already surpassed him in the race by scoring a century against South Africa.

If all five selectors decide to maintain the status quo, the entire debate surrounding the selections will prove to be futile.