No Shami, No Hardik Pandya as India announce Test and ODI squads for New Zealand series

BCCI have announced India’s Test and ODI squads for the upcoming series against New Zealand, which will begin in October. Shubman Gill will lead India in the first three ODIs and the two-match Test series. Meanwhile,  Shreyas Iyer will captain the team in the fourth and fifth ODIs.

The Indian selection committee has also named several players who missed the West Indies series due to their participation in the Asian Games. KL Rahul has been appointed vice-captain for the Test series. India will play five ODIs and two Test matches against New Zealand after completing the five-match T20I series.

However, Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya have not been included in the announced squads. Shami’s omission has drawn attention despite his impressive performances in domestic cricket. Hardik Pandya has also missed out, while the selectors have finalised the squads for India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand.

India announce Test and ODI squads for the New Zealand series

India have announced their Test and ODI squads for the upcoming series against New Zealand. The team will play five ODIs and two Test matches after completing the five-match T20I series. Several players who missed the West Indies series due to the Asian Games have returned to the squad. Naman Dhir has retained his place after an impressive debut series, while Ravindra Jadeja has been left out. Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer have also returned, while Anshul Kamboj has kept his place.

Captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna and Anshul Kamboj will miss the final two ODIs to prepare for the Test series. Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the fourth and fifth matches, while Kumar Kushagra has earned his maiden call-up. Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur and Tilak Varma have also been included in the squad. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will feature in both ODI squads, with Iyer serving as Gill’s deputy in the first three matches. Ishan Kishan has been named vice-captain and wicketkeeper for the final two ODIs.

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The five-match ODI series will begin on November 4 in Auckland. The second and third matches will be played in Wellington on November 7 and Hamilton on November 10, respectively. The final two ODIs are scheduled for November 13 and 15 in Mount Maunganui. The two-match Test series will begin in Wellington on November 19, followed by the second Test in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.

Here are the complete squad details at a glance:

India’s ODI squad for the first three ODIs: 

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna* and Kuldeep Yadav.

*Prasidh Krishna's selection for the first three ODIs is subject to fitness clearance.

India’s ODI squad for fourth and fifth ODIs: 

Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.

India Test Squad: 

Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)*, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.

*Rishabh Pant's selection is subject to fitness clearance.

Why Shami and Hardik Pandya missed out: Selectors’ reasoning and key omissions

Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami have missed out on India’s Test and ODI squads for the New Zealand series for different reasons. Hardik is recovering from a shin injury and has not yet received clearance to return to full action. He has been at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for rehabilitation. The team management wants him to regain full fitness, including the ability to bowl 10 overs in an ODI, before returning to international cricket.

Hardik’s fitness will be important for India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable player in the team. With the tournament approaching, the Indian management is keen to avoid rushing his comeback and wants him to recover completely before taking the field again.

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Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami’s omission has raised questions about India’s selection plans. The 36-year-old pacer continues to perform well in domestic cricket and recently took four wickets for Bengal against Delhi in the 2026–27 Ranji Trophy season. Shami has taken 229 wickets in Tests and 206 in ODIs, and he was India’s leading wicket-taker at the 2023 ODI World Cup with 24 wickets. While selectors may be looking to develop younger fast bowlers, Shami’s experience and proven record could still make him a valuable option for India.

What the squad choices mean for India’s preparations and the NZ series ahead

India’s squad selection for the New Zealand series shows that the team management is focusing on player fitness and long-term preparations. With Hardik Pandya unavailable and Mohammed Shami left out, India will need to rely on other players to strengthen their bowling attack. The series will also give the selected players an opportunity to prove their ability and secure their places in the team.

Hardik’s absence could affect India’s balance, especially in ODIs, as he provides an additional bowling option and adds depth to the batting order. The team management will need to find the right combination to cover his all-round role. Meanwhile, Shami’s omission means India will have to depend on other fast bowlers to provide experience, control and wickets in important situations.

The New Zealand series will be an important opportunity for India to test their combinations and prepare for future international challenges, including the 2027 ODI World Cup. The team will aim to build a strong bowling attack while managing the fitness of key players. Hardik’s recovery and Shami’s future selection will remain key talking points as India continue their preparations for upcoming tournaments.