New Delhi, October 17, 2026: India have opted for split captaincy during their five-match ODI series against New Zealand, with Shubman Gill leading the first three matches and Shreyas Iyer taking charge for the final two. The arrangement is intended to allow Gill and other players selected for the Test series to leave the ODI squad early and prepare for the two-match Test series that follows.
Gill to Lead Opening Three ODIs
Shubman Gill will captain India in the first three ODIs, scheduled to be played in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton.
Shreyas Iyer will serve as vice-captain during this phase before taking over the leadership for the fourth and fifth matches.
Iyer to Captain Final Two Matches
Iyer will lead India in the final two ODIs, both scheduled to take place at Mount Maunganui.
The appointment provides Iyer with another opportunity to lead the side in the 50-over format as India continue preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Ishan Kishan Named Vice-Captain
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been appointed vice-captain for the final two ODIs under Iyer.
Kishan is part of both phases of the series and could play an important role as India assess their squad depth ahead of the next World Cup.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Retained
Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been selected for all five ODIs.
Their experience will be valuable alongside younger players being assessed as India work towards finalising their combinations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Test-Bound Players to Leave After Third ODI
Gill, KL Rahul, Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna are among the players expected to leave the ODI squad after the third match.
The move will provide them with additional preparation time before the Test series begins in Wellington on November 19.
Four Players to Join for Final Two ODIs
Tilak Varma, Auqib Nabi, Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur will join the squad for the fourth and fifth matches.
The changes will allow the selectors to assess additional options while ensuring that players preparing for the Test series have adequate time to get ready.
India’s Squad for First Three ODIs
India’s squad for the opening three matches is:
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav.
Prasidh Krishna’s participation remains subject to fitness clearance.
India’s Squad for Final Two ODIs
For the fourth and fifth matches, India have named:
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.
Bumrah Rested for ODI Series
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has not been included in India’s ODI squads but is set to return for the Test series.
The decision reflects India’s workload-management approach for one of their key fast bowlers ahead of the longer format.
New Zealand Also Assessing Squad Depth
New Zealand have also made changes to their ODI combinations, with Mitchell Santner leading the hosts.
Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert are among the players returning to the ODI setup, while Rachin Ravindra is back after recovering from injury.
Five-Match Series Part of World Cup Preparations
The series is an important opportunity for both teams to assess player combinations, leadership options and squad depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
With the tournament approaching, the matches will give selectors valuable opportunities to evaluate players in overseas conditions.
India vs New Zealand ODI Schedule
- 1st ODI: November 4 — Auckland
- 2nd ODI: November 7 — Wellington
- 3rd ODI: November 10 — Hamilton
- 4th ODI: November 13 — Mount Maunganui
- 5th ODI: November 15 — Mount Maunganui
Two-Test Series to Follow
India will play a two-match Test series against New Zealand after the ODIs. The first Test is scheduled to begin in Wellington on November 19, followed by the second Test in Christchurch from November 27.
Gill will captain India in the Test series, with KL Rahul serving as vice-captain.
Split Captaincy Linked to Workload Management
The split-captaincy arrangement appears to be driven primarily by scheduling and preparation requirements rather than a permanent change in leadership. It allows Gill and other Test-bound players to focus on the upcoming Test series while giving Iyer an opportunity to lead India in the final two ODIs.
Source: BCCI, ICC, Reuters, The Indian Express
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