Multiple Indian key players can be dropped from the India vs New Zealand ODI series, as the T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to start in February next year. Ahead of the elite tournament, where Team India will have to defend their title, the management can restrict some of their star players from playing too many matches.

According to the latest reports, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya could miss the 3-match ODI series against New Zealand. Bumrah and Pandya are both proven match winners and integral parts of the Indian cricket team in the format. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, the team management can try to protect them.

The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is set to begin on January 11th. For that, BCCI will soon announce the 15-member Indian squad for this series. Shubman Gill is expected to play in the series as the captain. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will also play in the ODI series.

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Multiple big names can miss IND vs NZ ODI series

 But uncertainty remains over the keeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who is not in the T20 World Cup squad as well. As per reports, BCCI may rely on KL Rahul, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, or Ishan Kishan for wicketkeeping duties over Pant. He has not played a single ODI match for India since 2024. He was benched during the England series and the Champions Trophy and missed the series against Australia and South Africa as well.

India vs New Zealand ODI series schedule:

1st ODI: January 11, 2026 (Sunday) – Vadodara, Kotambi Stadium, 1:30 PM

2nd ODI: January 14, 2026 (Wednesday) – Rajkot, Niranjan Shah Stadium, 1:30 PM

3rd ODI: January 18, 2026 (Sunday) – Indore, Holkar Stadium, 1:30 PM

Probable Indian squad for New Zealand ODI series:

Shubman Gill (captain), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana.