India squad for New Zealand ODIs: Gill, Iyer to captain; young names get a run
Representative image: balouriarajesh / Pixabay
BCCI named India's ODI and Test squads for New Zealand on October 16, 2026: Gill and Iyer split ODI captaincy as young players like Naman Dhir get chances.
What Happened
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday, October 16, 2026, announced India's ODI and Test squads for the tour of New Zealand, which has five one-day internationals followed by two Tests starting in November. Shubman Gill will captain the side in the first three ODIs and in the Test series, while Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the last two ODIs as Gill switches his focus to red-ball cricket. The India squad for the New Zealand ODI series mixes senior names such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with a group of young players still early in their international careers, including Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj and Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi and wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra come in for the final two matches. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will miss the ODIs but is in the Test squad, and Akash Deep returns to the Test side.
Key Facts
- The squads were announced by the BCCI on October 16, 2026, for a tour of five ODIs and two Tests in New Zealand.
- Shubman Gill captains the first three ODIs and the Tests; Shreyas Iyer leads in the fourth and fifth ODIs.
- KL Rahul is vice-captain of the Test side.
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the ODI squad.
- Young players named include Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj and Nitish Kumar Reddy; Auqib Nabi and Kumar Kushagra join for the last two ODIs.
- Jasprit Bumrah will miss the ODIs but is picked for the Tests; Rishabh Pant's Test place is subject to fitness.
- Mohammed Shami was not selected.
Why It Matters
For young cricketers, a tour of New Zealand is one of the hardest tests in the game. Conditions there often help seam and swing bowlers, and pitches can be bouncy, so the trip shows quickly who can adapt. Selectors have used the long ODI series to give chances to several players who have only recently entered the international side, while still keeping experienced batters around them in the first three games.
Splitting the ODI leadership is also a sign of how the team is planning. By letting Gill hand over to Iyer for the final two ODIs, the selectors give the Test captain time to prepare for the red-ball series, and they give Iyer a run as leader in a full international series abroad. For younger players in the group, this means two different captains and possibly more chances in the final matches, where Nabi, Kushagra and others have been added.
Auqib Nabi's inclusion is one of the stories of the day for young fans in Jammu and Kashmir. He earned his first ODI cap against the West Indies on September 30, 2026, and is now back in the 50-over squad. Kumar Kushagra, 21, was already named as a replacement for Rishabh Pant on India A's tour of New Zealand, and now has a place in the senior ODI group too.
| Group | Captain | Notable young names |
|---|---|---|
| First three ODIs | Shubman Gill | Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj, Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| Last two ODIs | Shreyas Iyer | Auqib Nabi, Kumar Kushagra |
| Tests | Shubman Gill | Nitish Kumar Reddy, Anshul Kamboj, Sai Sudharsan |
Impact
Short-term: The young players will get their first taste of New Zealand conditions at international level, and a strong showing could fix their places ahead of the next season. Fitness reports on Rishabh Pant and Prasidh Krishna will be watched before the team leaves.
Long-term: The tour is part of a slow handover in Indian cricket, with senior batters still in the ODI side while a new group of all-rounders and fast bowlers is built around them. How these players handle seam-friendly pitches will shape selection for years.
Who is affected: The young players picked, those left out such as Mohammed Shami, state teams and IPL franchises that develop these cricketers, and fans who will follow the series in November.
Key Takeaway
India's squads for the New Zealand tour, announced on October 16, 2026, give a run of chances to young players under two captains, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
Questions and Answers
Who is the captain of India for the New Zealand ODI series?
Shubman Gill leads India in the first three ODIs, and Shreyas Iyer takes over for the fourth and fifth ODIs. Gill also captains the Test side.
Which young players are in India's squad for New Zealand?
Young players named include Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj and Nitish Kumar Reddy, with Auqib Nabi and Kumar Kushagra joining for the last two ODIs. Sai Sudharsan is in the Test squad.
Is Jasprit Bumrah playing the New Zealand series?
Bumrah will miss the ODIs but is part of the Test squad.
How many matches will India play in New Zealand?
The tour has five ODIs followed by two Tests, starting in November 2026.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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