Overview
- India’s three-match home ODI series against New Zealand starts January 11 in Vadodara, with the squad to be named in the first week of January.
- KL Rahul remains first-choice wicketkeeper, leaving one backup slot contested by Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel.
- Ishan Kishan has surged into contention after leading Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, smashing 125 off 39 balls at No. 6 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and being asked to play two more List A games on January 3 and 6.
- Dhruv Jurel has strong recent List A returns for Uttar Pradesh with 307 runs in three innings, and he was previously picked for South Africa ODIs as a specialist batter.
- A media report indicates Pant could be overlooked despite limited ODI chances since his comeback, as management also values a left-handed middle-order option and outfielding strength that favor Kishan.