Action-packed white-ball series between India and Newzeland. Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Rohit-Virat's return, Shubman Gill to lead, Know the complete schedule and team updates
Hindustan Taja News: As the year 2026 begins, a big piece of good news has emerged for cricket fans. A 3-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is starting from January 11th. The biggest highlight of this series is the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI team, which is very important in terms of preparations for the Champions Trophy.
Shubman Gill Captain:
Although Rohit and Virat are in the team, the captaincy of the ODI series has been handed over to young batsman Shubman Gill. On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav will continue as captain in the T20 series.
Why is this series special?
Historic match in Vadodara: The first international match will be played in Vadodara after 15 years.
Test for Senior Players: All eyes will be on Rohit and Virat to see how they start the new year.
Bowling Attack: Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have been rested for the ODI series under workload management, and new fast bowlers will be tried in their place.Mohammed Siraj and Shreyas Iyer make their highly anticipated returns.
India vs New Zealand 2026 Series Schedule.
Pitch Report : The Kotambi Cricket Stadium in Vadodara hasn't hosted many international matches yet. However, women's cricket matches have been played here, and the pitch has consistently favored the batsmen. The ball comes onto the bat easily on this wicket, making scoring runs relatively simple. Therefore, a high-scoring match can be expected. There isn't much assistance for the bowlers. Spinners might get some turn as the ball gets older.
Surface: Expect a "run feast." It’s a brand-new stadium with a flat deck. The ball is expected to come onto the bat nicely, making it a nightmare for bowlers once the initial swing fades.
Toss Factor: Dew is expected in the evening. The team winning the toss will likely choose to bowl first to avoid the "wet ball" struggle in the second innings.
Par Score: 300+ is considered a par total here given the smallish boundaries and the nature of the pitch.
IND vs NZ ODI squads: Full teams and injury updates
India squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vc), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Injury update: Shreyas Iyer has been cleared to join the team after playing two Vijay Hazare Trophy games for Mumbai. Shubman Gill has also returned to full fitness after missing the ODI series against South Africa due to a neck injury. Hardik Pandya hasn't been cleared to bowl 10 overs by the BCCI COE and isn't part of the side.
New Zealand squad: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young.
Injury updates: None.
India Predicted XI
The big debate is whether India will fit Yashasvi Jaiswal into the top order or stick with the established opening pair of Rohit and Gill. Most indicators suggest the captain and the "Hitman" will open, allowing Shreyas Iyer to return to his favored No. 4 spot.
Rohit Sharma : Experience and form from Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Shubman Gill (C) : Returns from injury to lead.
Virat Kohli : Coming off back-to-back centuries in domestic cricket.
Shreyas Iyer (VC) : Returning to the international side after a long layoff.
KL Rahul (WK) : Expected to pip Rishabh Pant for the keeper's spot for balance.
Ravindra Jadeja :The primary spin all-rounder.
Washington Sundar / Nitish Kumar Reddy : Sundar is likely if they want extra spin; Nitish if they want a pace-bowling all-rounder.
Kuldeep Yadav :The main wicket-taking threat.
Harshit Rana / Arshdeep Singh : Rana's extra pace vs Arshdeep's left-arm angle.
Mohammed Siraj : Leading the attack in Bumrah’s absence.
Prasidh Krishna : Returning to add height and bounce to the attack.
Where to watch Live?
You can enjoy the matches on the Star Sports Network and watch free streaming on JioHotstar on your mobile.
Stay tuned to "Hindustan Taja News" for more such breaking news!
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