The BCCI senior men’s selection committee on Saturday (January 3) announced India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

The 15-member squad had Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer returning as captain and vice-captain respectively after the two missed the preceding ODI series against South Africa due to injuries.

KL Rahul, who led India against South Africa in Gill's absence, will play as the first-choice wicketkeeper against New Zealand. Rishabh Pant retained his place in the squad as a reserve wicketkeeper despite having not played white-ball cricket for the Men in Blue since the tour of Sri Lanka in July-August 2024.

However, the biggest talking point was the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who showcased his brilliance by hitting a hundred against the Proteas in Iyer’s absence.

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has also questioned Gaikwad’s omission from the ODI side. He argued that if Gaikwad was meant to be axed after Gill and Iyer’s return, then the Gautam Gambhir-led management might as well have played Pant at No. 4 against South Africa.

“Ruturaj misses out because Iyer is back. So does Tilak because Gill is back. And that begs a question—why didn’t they play Pant at 4 when the opportunity presented itself vs SA? Since you’re continuing with him as a back-up keeper, it would’ve made a lot more sense to play him in Iyer’s absence,” Chopra wrote on X.

Nitish Kumar Reddy features in the side as seam-bowling all-rounder as Hardik Pandya hasn't been cleared to bowl 10 overs in a match.

Aakash, though, questioned the team’s decision to continue including Reddy even though the latter didn’t get a chance in the South Africa series despite Pandya’s absence.

“Also, if NKR is indispensable…why doesn’t he get a game? Even when India’s fielding 3 pacers?? Will he get a game now?? With four pacers? How can you get future-ready (read for Pandya’s absence) when he’s always warming the bench?” Chopra added.

The Kiwis will tour India for three ODIs and five T20Is. The tour starts with the ODI series, and the matches will be played in Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore on January 11, 14 and 18, respectively.