Shubman Gill to captain India in first 3 ODIs vs New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer takes over for last 2
Synopsis
India's selectors have split the ODI captaincy between Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer for the five-match New Zealand series — a workload-management call shaped by the tight Test-to-ODI turnaround. Rohit and Kohli play all five; KL Rahul exits after game three; and two uncapped ODI debutants — Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur — get their first shot at the format.
Key Takeaways
Shubman Gill captains India in the first three ODIs against New Zealand, with Shreyas Iyer as deputy.
Shreyas Iyer takes over the captaincy for ODIs 4 and 5 , with Ishan Kishan as vice-captain.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are available for all five matches.
KL Rahul , Anshul Kamboj , and Prasidh Krishna (fitness permitting) feature only in the first three games before departing for Test preparation.
Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur receive their maiden ODI call-ups for the final two matches.
The five-match series begins on 4 November at Eden Park, Auckland , with all games starting at 7:30 AM IST .
Shubman Gill has been named captain of the India ODI squad for the first three matches of the five-game series against New Zealand, with Shreyas Iyer stepping up to lead the side in the final two games, selectors announced on 16 October 2026. The split captaincy arrangement reflects the tight turnaround between the Test and ODI legs of India's tour of New Zealand.
The Split-Captaincy Setup Explained
In the opening three ODIs, Gill leads a 16-member squad with Iyer as his deputy. For the fourth and fifth matches, Iyer is elevated to the captaincy, with wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan named as his vice-captain. This rotation ensures continuity while managing player workloads across formats.
Senior batting stalwarts and former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are available for all five ODIs, providing experience and stability across both squad phases. All-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Naman Dhir also feature throughout the series.
Who Features When — and Why
Regular wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, alongside pacers Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna, will participate only in the first three ODIs before departing to prepare for the Test series. Notably, Krishna's inclusion for the opening phase remains subject to his fitness and recovery from a left hamstring injury.
For the final two games, selectors have drafted in left-handed batter Tilak Varma and pacer Auqib Nabi. Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra and fast bowler Yash Thakur — who has previously appeared only in T20Is — have received their maiden ODI call-ups, representing significant career milestones for both players.
No Returns for Shami or Bhuvneshwar
Contrary to widespread speculation, neither senior pacer Mohammed Shami nor Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been recalled for the ODI series. Bhuvneshwar, who was added to the squad for the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru, is set to feature in the T20I series in New Zealand starting 22 October. Other regulars in both ODI squads include left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, seamer Mohammed Siraj, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, tall pacer Gurnoor Brar, and right-handed batter Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Full Series Schedule
The five-match ODI series opens on 4 November at Eden Park, Auckland, followed by the second ODI at Basin Reserve, Wellington on 7 November. The third match moves to Seddon Park, Hamilton on 10 November, before the series wraps up with back-to-back fixtures at Mount Maunganui on 13 and 15 November. All five matches are scheduled to begin at 7:30 AM IST.
India's ODI squad for the first three games: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.
India's ODI squad for the fourth and fifth games: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wk & vc), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav.
With India managing a congested international calendar, the series will also serve as a live audition for fringe players eyeing a spot in future squads ahead of the next major white-ball cycle.
Point of View
But it also reveals a deeper uncertainty at the top of India's ODI leadership pipeline. Gill has been groomed as the long-term white-ball captain, yet the selectors have not yet been willing to hand him the full series — suggesting they are still evaluating him under match pressure. The debutant picks for the final two games are a welcome acknowledgement that the tour's back end is a low-stakes opportunity to blood new talent, but the absence of Shami — despite months of fitness updates — raises questions about whether his ODI comeback is being managed or indefinitely deferred.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is captaining India in the ODI series against New Zealand in 2026?
Shubman Gill will captain India in the first three ODIs, while Shreyas Iyer will lead the side in the fourth and fifth matches. The split reflects the tight scheduling turnaround between the Test and ODI legs of the New Zealand tour.
When and where does the India vs New Zealand ODI series 2026 start?
The five-match series begins on 4 November 2026 at Eden Park in Auckland, with all matches scheduled to start at 7:30 AM IST. The series concludes with back-to-back games at Mount Maunganui on 13 and 15 November.
Who are the new players getting their maiden ODI call-ups?
Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra and fast bowler Yash Thakur — previously a T20I cricketer — have been handed their first ODI call-ups for the fourth and fifth games of the New Zealand series.
Why are KL Rahul, Anshul Kamboj, and Prasidh Krishna only in the first three ODIs?
KL Rahul, Anshul Kamboj, and Prasidh Krishna will participate in only the first three ODIs before leaving to prepare for the subsequent Test series. Prasidh Krishna's availability for even those games is subject to his recovery from a left hamstring injury.
Is Mohammed Shami in India's ODI squad for New Zealand?
No. Despite considerable speculation, Mohammed Shami has not been recalled for the ODI series against New Zealand. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was also not included, though he is part of the T20I squad for the tour beginning 22 October.
