Ruturaj Gaikwad with Virat Kohli during IND vs WI ODIs 2026 | PC- AFPOn Tuesday, the BCCI unveiled the T20I squad for the New Zealand series, but there were no signs of an ODI squad. Although the core players are more or less settled for the ODI World Cup 2027, the Indian board allegedly wants to evaluate a few players in India A before naming the ODI squad for the five-match series Down Under.BCCI wants to assess India A players before picking ODI squad for New ZealandAccording to the Times of India, the selection panel, led by Pragyan Ojha, wants to see a couple of cricketers currently playing against Australia A before they finalise the ODI squad for the forthcoming series. Notably, the Test regulars such as Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are reportedly to be released before the final two ODIs between New Zealand and India, for the preparations for the Test series. “The selectors want to evaluate a few players in the ongoing unofficial ODI series between India A and Australia A,” the TOI report stated. ALSO READIndia A Series Could Shape Ruturaj Gaikwad And Devdutt Padikkal’s ODI Cases“Selectors plan to keep an alternate squad ready for the last two ODIs as the Test regulars are likely to leave for preparations,” it added. If Gill doesn't participate in the fourth and fifth ODIs vs the Kiwis, T20I captain and ODI deputy Shreyas Iyer is expected to be at the helm. Gaikwad, Patidar, Shedge in focus before ODI selection for NZ tourAs India A face Australia A in a three-game series, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal and Suryash Shedge are a few names who could make the cut for the national ODI squad for the upcoming NZ vs IND series. The India A skipper was a part of the set-up in Shreyas Iyer's absence during the West Indies ODIs, while the fast-bowling all-rounder Shedge is looked at as a cover for Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy. That said, the hosts were outclassed by the Aussies in the first unofficial ODI, as the Boys in Blue were toppled for just 149 runs in the chase of 275. Rajat Patidar scored a fifty and was the only saving grace for India A. His knock could give him an outside chance of earning a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming New Zealand series.ALSO READElite Records That Shreyas Iyer Can Create In India vs West Indies 2nd T20I, 2026
