Major changes in India's ODI team are on the horizon. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant may be excluded from the Indian team for the three-match home ODI series against New Zealand. Sources from the selection committee have informed India Today that the team management wants to prioritize form and balance before the last home series of the 2025–26 season.
The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand will be played from January 11 to 18. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to announce the team by the end of this week. If Pant is excluded, Ishan Kishan could make a comeback to the ODI team, having caught the selectors' attention with outstanding performances in domestic cricket. In addition to Ishan, wicketkeepers like Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson are also being considered. However, the final decision rests with the selectors.
Rishabh Pant last played an ODI for India on August 7, 2024, against Sri Lanka in Colombo. He was part of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the recent ODI series against South Africa but did not get a chance to play in any match. Now, selectors are inclined to move forward with the New Zealand series.
In Pant's absence, Ishan Kishan could return to the ODI lineup after more than two years. Ishan last represented India in a One Day International on October 11, 2023, against Afghanistan during the World Cup and has made a remarkable comeback in domestic cricket since then.
Ishan Kishan was the top run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, playing a pivotal role in securing Jharkhand's first title. He scored a century in the final against Haryana. This performance earned him a place in India's T20 World Cup team. Following this, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 against Karnataka, he scored a century in just 33 balls, which is the second-fastest List-A century by an Indian batsman.
Shubman Gill to Captain!
Shubman Gill's return as ODI captain seems certain. He was sidelined from the South Africa series due to a neck injury but is now fit to return. However, there remains uncertainty over vice-captain Shreyas Iyer's availability as he has not been declared fully fit. KL Rahul captained the team during the South Africa series, leading India to a 2–1 victory.
Rishabh Pant is currently captaining Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26. His performance has been mixed, scoring 5 and 70 in the first two matches. His exclusion from the New Zealand series is considered a temporary pause in his ODI career as the team management is focusing on current form.
