Anticipation builds as the BCCI men’s selection committee prepares to announce India’s squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour, with selectors likely to pick nearly 60 players across four squads: T20I, ODI, Test and ‘A’. India will play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests, alongside three unofficial ‘A’ games, starting October 22.&nbsp;While the T20Is will coincide with the ‘A’ matches, the Pragyan Ojha-led selection committee faces a delicate task of balancing workload. As a result, the board is keen to give Test regulars more game time through ‘A’ games ahead of the two Tests, which begin on November 19.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pragyan-ojha-chair-selection-meeting-india-squads-new-zealand-series-1791211931544">Pragyan Ojha to chair New Zealand series selection meet; squads expected in next 48 hours</a>&nbsp;A Times of India (TOI) report claims India’s T20I captain Shreyas Iyer could lead the ODI team in the final two One-Dayers. Key Test starters—including ODI skipper Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah—are expected to miss the last leg of the ODI series to feature in the final shadow match before red-ball action begins in Wellington.&nbsp;Moreover, the Test squad could also feature 16 or 17 players, as the selectors want more pacers at their disposal, given the conditions and India’s urgency to climb the 2025-27 WTC points table with twin wins in New Zealand. Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna are currently in the mix, with Auqib Nabi, Mukesh Kumar and Anshul Kamboj competing for the sixth pace-bowling spot. All three are also likely to feature in India ‘A’ matches and could stay back as standbys to help the Test squad with preparations.<h3>Red-Ball Cricket a Priority for BCCI Selectors</h3>The BCCI men’s selection committee will convene on either Tuesday or Wednesday to finalise the four squads for the New Zealand tour, which begins with a five-match T20I series. While India’s white-ball cricket is not what the selection committee is worried about, the major focus remains on providing more red-ball exposure to the Test-bound players for the crucial two-match series — part of the current 2025-27 WTC cycle.&nbsp;Lack of clarity on Prasidh Krishna’s injury status postponed the meeting on Monday, with the selectors likely to have his update ready before announcing the squads. Besides, Rishabh Pant would be a sure starter for the two Tests, with Dhruv Jurel likely to be picked as his backup.&nbsp;The T20I series runs from October 22 to November 1, with five ODIs scheduled from November 4 to November 15. Wellington (Nov 19-23) and Christchurch (Nov 27-Dec 1) will host two Tests.

BCCI selectors are set to pick nearly 60 players across four squads for the New Zealand tour, with Shreyas Iyer likely to lead in the last two ODIs.

Anticipation builds as the BCCI men’s selection committee prepares to announce India’s squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour, with selectors likely to pick nearly 60 players across four squads: T20I, ODI, Test and ‘A’. India will play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests, alongside three unofficial ‘A’ games, starting October 22. While the T20Is will coincide with the ‘A’ matches, the Pragyan Ojha-led selection committee faces a delicate task of balancing workload. As a result, the board is keen to give Test regulars more game time through ‘A’ games ahead of the two Tests, which begin on November 19. Also read| Pragyan Ojha to chair New Zealand series selection meet; squads expected in next 48 hours A Times of India (TOI) report claims India’s T20I captain Shreyas Iyer could lead the ODI team in the final two One-Dayers. Key Test starters—including ODI skipper Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah—are expected to miss the last leg of the ODI series to feature in the final shadow match before red-ball action begins in Wellington. Moreover, the Test squad could also feature 16 or 17 players, as the selectors want more pacers at their disposal, given the conditions and India’s urgency to climb the 2025-27 WTC points table with twin wins in New Zealand. Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna are currently in the mix, with Auqib Nabi, Mukesh Kumar and Anshul Kamboj competing for the sixth pace-bowling spot. All three are also likely to feature in India ‘A’ matches and could stay back as standbys to help the Test squad with preparations. Red-Ball Cricket a Priority for BCCI Selectors The BCCI men’s selection committee will convene on either Tuesday or Wednesday to finalise the four squads for the New Zealand tour, which begins with a five-match T20I series. While India’s white-ball cricket is not what the selection committee is worried about, the major focus remains on providing more red-ball exposure to the Test-bound players for the crucial two-match series — part of the current 2025-27 WTC cycle. Lack of clarity on Prasidh Krishna’s injury status postponed the meeting on Monday, with the selectors likely to have his update ready before announcing the squads. Besides, Rishabh Pant would be a sure starter for the two Tests, with Dhruv Jurel likely to be picked as his backup. The T20I series runs from October 22 to November 1, with five ODIs scheduled from November 4 to November 15. Wellington (Nov 19-23) and Christchurch (Nov 27-Dec 1) will host two Tests.

BCCI selectors are set to pick nearly 60 players across four squads for the New Zealand tour, with Shreyas Iyer likely to lead in the last two ODIs.

IND vs NZ 2026: Iyer could lead India in last 2 ODIs to allow Test specialists extra prep time

With question marks being raised about Ajit Agarkar’s future as the head of the men’s selection committee, former Indian spinner and interim chief selector Pragyan Ojha will chair the meeting for the forthcoming New Zealand tour. The selectors postponed the squad announcement meeting on Monday (Oct 5) amid seamer Prasidh Krishna’s pending fitness report, but will likely announce T20I, ODI, Test and ‘A’ squads in the next 48 hours.&nbsp;A Times of India (TOI) report claims that with ‘A’ matches, starting on October 24, overlapping with the five T20Is, beginning October 22, the selection conundrum has gripped the Ojha-led committee. Even though the selectors will not dilute the two squads, handing red-ball exposure to the Test regulars remains at the top of their agenda during the squad announcement meeting.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dinesh-karthik-verdict-joe-root-virat-kohli-sachin-tendulkar-records-1791206628324">Root 'Can', 'Tough' for Kohli: Dinesh Karthik's verdict on passing Sachin Tendulkar</a>&nbsp;A few India A fast bowlers might stay back to assist the Test team with preparations. Irani Cup hero Mukesh Kumar, who picked up eight wickets in Rest of India's victory over Ranji Trophy champions Jammu &amp; Kashmir, is back on the selectors’ radar, with the committee set to hand him an India-A call-up. His Bengal and India bowling partner, Akash Deep, is also back in the reckoning for a spot in the Test squad, with the selectors deliberating on ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah’s readiness. The management wants him to increase his workload before joining the India squad for two Tests against New Zealand.<h2>Ishan Kishan set for Test call-up</h2>A T20I mainstay and a formidable One-Day batter, Ishan Kishan, could be back in the Test side for the New Zealand series, per the report. The selectors are said to have initiated plans to keep Kishan in line for a Test recall. While they wanted to pick him for the ‘A’ games, the overlap of the white-ball series could force them to look towards Dhruv Jurel and Kumar Kushagra.&nbsp;Rishabh Pant is also expected to complete his preparations for the Test series by featuring in at least one ‘A’ game.&nbsp;Besides Pant, other Test regulars including Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan and even KL Rahul are expected to feature in one ‘A’ match. Since KL Rahul is also a key member of the ODI setup, he could feature in only the first ‘A’ match, before linking up with the One-Day squad in Auckland.<h3>Reddy Ahead of Kuldeep</h3>Unlike how India picked several spinners for their concluded Test tour of Sri Lanka, where Manav Suthar earned big praise for his standout performance, he could potentially miss out on the Test squad, alongside Kuldeep Yadav. With more focus on batters and batting all-rounders, Nitish Kumar Reddy could also be back playing Test cricket. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja would also retain his place in the Test squad.<h3>Fast Bowlers in Mix</h3>Barring Bumrah, who is a sure starter, India would have options to pick from an army of pacers, including Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and Akash Deep. In case of an injury to any of the pacers, the door could be open for either Auqib Nabi or Mukesh Kumar.

Pragyan Ojha will chair the selection meeting for the New Zealand series as India prepares to announce T20I, ODI, Test, and 'A' squads shortly.

With question marks being raised about Ajit Agarkar’s future as the head of the men’s selection committee, former Indian spinner and interim chief selector Pragyan Ojha will chair the meeting for the forthcoming New Zealand tour. The selectors postponed the squad announcement meeting on Monday (Oct 5) amid seamer Prasidh Krishna’s pending fitness report, but will likely announce T20I, ODI, Test and ‘A’ squads in the next 48 hours. A Times of India (TOI) report claims that with ‘A’ matches, starting on October 24, overlapping with the five T20Is, beginning October 22, the selection conundrum has gripped the Ojha-led committee. Even though the selectors will not dilute the two squads, handing red-ball exposure to the Test regulars remains at the top of their agenda during the squad announcement meeting. Also read| Root 'Can', 'Tough' for Kohli: Dinesh Karthik's verdict on passing Sachin Tendulkar A few India A fast bowlers might stay back to assist the Test team with preparations. Irani Cup hero Mukesh Kumar, who picked up eight wickets in Rest of India's victory over Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir, is back on the selectors’ radar, with the committee set to hand him an India-A call-up. His Bengal and India bowling partner, Akash Deep, is also back in the reckoning for a spot in the Test squad, with the selectors deliberating on ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah’s readiness. The management wants him to increase his workload before joining the India squad for two Tests against New Zealand. Ishan Kishan set for Test call-up A T20I mainstay and a formidable One-Day batter, Ishan Kishan, could be back in the Test side for the New Zealand series, per the report. The selectors are said to have initiated plans to keep Kishan in line for a Test recall. While they wanted to pick him for the ‘A’ games, the overlap of the white-ball series could force them to look towards Dhruv Jurel and Kumar Kushagra. Rishabh Pant is also expected to complete his preparations for the Test series by featuring in at least one ‘A’ game. Besides Pant, other Test regulars including Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan and even KL Rahul are expected to feature in one ‘A’ match. Since KL Rahul is also a key member of the ODI setup, he could feature in only the first ‘A’ match, before linking up with the One-Day squad in Auckland. Reddy Ahead of Kuldeep Unlike how India picked several spinners for their concluded Test tour of Sri Lanka, where Manav Suthar earned big praise for his standout performance, he could potentially miss out on the Test squad, alongside Kuldeep Yadav. With more focus on batters and batting all-rounders, Nitish Kumar Reddy could also be back playing Test cricket. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja would also retain his place in the Test squad. Fast Bowlers in Mix Barring Bumrah, who is a sure starter, India would have options to pick from an army of pacers, including Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and Akash Deep. In case of an injury to any of the pacers, the door could be open for either Auqib Nabi or Mukesh Kumar.

Pragyan Ojha will chair the selection meeting for the New Zealand series as India prepares to announce T20I, ODI, Test, and 'A' squads shortly.

Pragyan Ojha to chair New Zealand series selection meet; squads expected in next 48 hours

Team India has been hit by a double blow as Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana suffered fitness setbacks, making them doubtful for the New Zealand series. The two have been recovering at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Pandya has been away from competitive cricket since the conclusion of IPL 2026, and Harshit last featured during the England white-ball leg in July this year.&nbsp;A Dainik Jagran report claims that although Pandya was inching closer to recovery after completing batting, bowling and fielding workloads, he suffered a fresh setback during the match simulation and complained of pain in his right calf. The report also added that Pandya has been put on Vitamin D medication following an MRI scan and will undergo bisphosphonate therapy.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-jaiswal-or-kishan-jaffer-picks-surprise-left-hander-as-kohli-odi-heir-1791128373005">Not Jaiswal or Ishan Kishan: Wasim Jaffer picks surprise left-hander as Virat Kohli’s ODI successor at No. 3</a>&nbsp;Harshit Rana has suffered low-grade left quadriceps pain during the match simulation. The lanky bowling all-rounder is also said to be down with fever, sore throat and cold, and likely to be eased back into action upon fully recovering.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India will tour New Zealand for five T20Is, five One-Dayers and two Tests, starting October 22 in Christchurch. The white-ball leg concludes on November 15, with the first Test starting in Wellington on November 23. The second Test will get underway in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.&nbsp;The two-match Test series falls under the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, where New Zealand (72.22 PCT) sit in third place and India at fifth (51.52 PCT). For India to qualify for the 2027 WTC Final, they must beat New Zealand 2-0.&nbsp;New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced the T20I squad for the India series, with seasoned all-rounder Mitchell Santner named the captain.<h3>New Zealand T20I Squad:&nbsp;</h3>Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert and Nathan Smith&nbsp;The BCCI has yet to announce the white-ball squad for the away New Zealand tour.

Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana have suffered fresh fitness setbacks at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, leaving both doubtful for India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Team India has been hit by a double blow as Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana suffered fitness setbacks, making them doubtful for the New Zealand series. The two have been recovering at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Pandya has been away from competitive cricket since the conclusion of IPL 2026, and Harshit last featured during the England white-ball leg in July this year. A Dainik Jagran report claims that although Pandya was inching closer to recovery after completing batting, bowling and fielding workloads, he suffered a fresh setback during the match simulation and complained of pain in his right calf. The report also added that Pandya has been put on Vitamin D medication following an MRI scan and will undergo bisphosphonate therapy. Also read| Not Jaiswal or Ishan Kishan: Wasim Jaffer picks surprise left-hander as Virat Kohli’s ODI successor at No. 3 Harshit Rana has suffered low-grade left quadriceps pain during the match simulation. The lanky bowling all-rounder is also said to be down with fever, sore throat and cold, and likely to be eased back into action upon fully recovering. Meanwhile, India will tour New Zealand for five T20Is, five One-Dayers and two Tests, starting October 22 in Christchurch. The white-ball leg concludes on November 15, with the first Test starting in Wellington on November 23. The second Test will get underway in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1. The two-match Test series falls under the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, where New Zealand (72.22 PCT) sit in third place and India at fifth (51.52 PCT). For India to qualify for the 2027 WTC Final, they must beat New Zealand 2-0. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced the T20I squad for the India series, with seasoned all-rounder Mitchell Santner named the captain. New Zealand T20I Squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert and Nathan Smith The BCCI has yet to announce the white-ball squad for the away New Zealand tour.

Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana have suffered fresh fitness setbacks at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, leaving both doubtful for India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Double blow for India as Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana suffer fitness setbacks; unlikely for NZ tour: Report

Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill said there is no room left to experiment with potential players or playing XIs, with the 2027 50-over World Cup in sight. Gill added that with so much cricket being played across formats and levels, it’s challenging to field your best XI, which he wants to do in each game leading up to the showpiece event.&nbsp;While India had their best and almost all first-team batters, barring Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, available for selection for the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies, they had to play their backup quicks, with main players like Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh committing to Asian Games duties in Japan.&nbsp;Besides, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar — core members of the ODI setup for the 2027 World Cup — were also unavailable for the West Indies series. All, however, will be back in action for the five-match T20Is starting October 6.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-3rd-odi-shai-hope-motie-star-as-west-indies-defeat-india-by-five-wickets-1791039749152">IND vs WI, 3rd ODI: Shai Hope, Motie star as West Indies defeat India by five wickets</a>&nbsp;India handed debuts to Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, and Anshul Kamboj, played Ruturaj Gaikwad at number four, and eventually sealed the series 2-1.&nbsp;“I honestly think there is not that much time to experiment; the combination that we want to play, hopefully, we get all the players that are available from the next series, and the combination that we would like to play in the World Cup, we want to start playing with that combination,” Gill said after India lost the third and final ODI in New Chandigarh by five wickets.&nbsp;“I would say it’s been unfortunate, you know, with the injuries and with the scheduling with the other matches being around, it’s been a little bit unfortunate that we have not been able to play the bowling lineup that we would like to,” he continued.&nbsp;Gill, however, embraced the chance to hand out India caps to newcomers and try the bench strength in the lead-up to the cricket spectacle in Africa in late 2027.&nbsp;“I think it’s a good chance for the other players, you know, the players who might not have been in the team had the full-strength bowling lineup been there, so it’s a great chance for them to showcase their skills,” he said.&nbsp;After the T20I series against the West Indies, which concludes on October 17, the Shreyas Iyer-led Indian Team will face New Zealand for T20Is starting October 22 in Christchurch.

Shubman Gill flags lack of preparation time for the 2027 World Cup, stressing there is no room left to experiment after India’s ODI series against West Indies.

Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill said there is no room left to experiment with potential players or playing XIs, with the 2027 50-over World Cup in sight. Gill added that with so much cricket being played across formats and levels, it’s challenging to field your best XI, which he wants to do in each game leading up to the showpiece event. While India had their best and almost all first-team batters, barring Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, available for selection for the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies, they had to play their backup quicks, with main players like Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh committing to Asian Games duties in Japan. Besides, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar — core members of the ODI setup for the 2027 World Cup — were also unavailable for the West Indies series. All, however, will be back in action for the five-match T20Is starting October 6. Also read| IND vs WI, 3rd ODI: Shai Hope, Motie star as West Indies defeat India by five wickets India handed debuts to Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, and Anshul Kamboj, played Ruturaj Gaikwad at number four, and eventually sealed the series 2-1. “I honestly think there is not that much time to experiment; the combination that we want to play, hopefully, we get all the players that are available from the next series, and the combination that we would like to play in the World Cup, we want to start playing with that combination,” Gill said after India lost the third and final ODI in New Chandigarh by five wickets. “I would say it’s been unfortunate, you know, with the injuries and with the scheduling with the other matches being around, it’s been a little bit unfortunate that we have not been able to play the bowling lineup that we would like to,” he continued. Gill, however, embraced the chance to hand out India caps to newcomers and try the bench strength in the lead-up to the cricket spectacle in Africa in late 2027. “I think it’s a good chance for the other players, you know, the players who might not have been in the team had the full-strength bowling lineup been there, so it’s a great chance for them to showcase their skills,” he said. After the T20I series against the West Indies, which concludes on October 17, the Shreyas Iyer-led Indian Team will face New Zealand for T20Is starting October 22 in Christchurch.

Shubman Gill flags lack of preparation time for the 2027 World Cup, stressing there is no room left to experiment after India’s ODI series against West Indies.

‘No Room to Experiment’: Shubman Gill wants India’s best XI in ODIs

Ace Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming series against Australia A in Puducherry, and subsequently from the New Zealand T20Is, with a fresh shin injury. Pandya was set to return to competitive cricket for the first time since IPL 2026 but experienced pain in his right shin earlier this week and underwent scans. The BCCI’s medical team monitored him and advised him to rest for three weeks.&nbsp;Just as he neared full fitness ahead of his anticipated India A call-up, the recurring shin issue derailed the progress he had made at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE).&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-could-not-sleep-gautam-gambhir-reveals-toughest-decision-to-pick-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-over-sanju-samson-1790335656692">'I could not sleep': Gautam Gambhir reveals 'toughest decision' to pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over Sanju Samson</a>&nbsp;A similar shin issue had previously delayed his return during the Afghanistan T20Is. Meanwhile, a Times of India (TOI) report claims the BCCI men’s selection committee also considered roping in Pandya for the Asian Games cricket competition, before an unfortunate turn of events closer to the selection date ruled out that possibility.&nbsp;With no cricket and minimal physical activity in the next two weeks, Pandya’s participation in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand is out of the question, forcing selectors to look at alternative all-round options. The selectors, however, would be careful in making calls on his selection for the five ODIs that follow.&nbsp;Although the BCCI hasn’t made it official yet, Suryansh Shedge, one of the two seam-bowling all-rounders alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy, is currently training at BCCI’s CoE and could well be drafted in as Hardik Pandya’s replacement for the three A games against Australia A.<h2>Reddy Ready to Take All-Rounder’s Spot: Morkel</h2>Team India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel believes that Nitish Reddy could fight for that all-rounder’s spot in the Indian team. After impressing with his maiden Test hundred at the MCG in December 2024, Reddy began emerging as a prospect across formats, with his bowling building on that momentum.&nbsp;In Pandya’s absence, India is keen on having a seam-bowling all-rounder in their ranks, and Reddy’s gradual rise keeps him ahead of his contemporaries.&nbsp;"I think Nitish, if we just rewind to the T20s, the way he bowled in different situations has been very impressive," Morkel said of Reddy’s talent. "The message to him all the time is just to keep things simple and do the basics as well as possible. I think he's a very talented guy when it comes to bat, ball and field. He always wants to be the guy who wants to create opportunities, and having that mindset is fantastic."&nbsp;"I think the role that we want him to play in certain situations is: how can we ask him to be as consistent; how well can he fulfil just doing the basics as best as possible. I think that is another thing where we need to give him those opportunities to learn and grow.&nbsp;"Luckily, we do have a bit of time now, and it will be great for Indian cricket if we can keep on developing him and for him to compete for that allrounder spot. He's got all the talent and all the ability to do that, but for us it's just important to manage him quite well, to give him quite a simple role in terms of what he needs to do for the team,” he continued.

Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India's tour of New Zealand and Australia A series due to a shin injury. Nitish Kumar Reddy set to step up.

Ace Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming series against Australia A in Puducherry, and subsequently from the New Zealand T20Is, with a fresh shin injury. Pandya was set to return to competitive cricket for the first time since IPL 2026 but experienced pain in his right shin earlier this week and underwent scans. The BCCI’s medical team monitored him and advised him to rest for three weeks. Just as he neared full fitness ahead of his anticipated India A call-up, the recurring shin issue derailed the progress he had made at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). Also read| 'I could not sleep': Gautam Gambhir reveals 'toughest decision' to pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over Sanju Samson A similar shin issue had previously delayed his return during the Afghanistan T20Is. Meanwhile, a Times of India (TOI) report claims the BCCI men’s selection committee also considered roping in Pandya for the Asian Games cricket competition, before an unfortunate turn of events closer to the selection date ruled out that possibility. With no cricket and minimal physical activity in the next two weeks, Pandya’s participation in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand is out of the question, forcing selectors to look at alternative all-round options. The selectors, however, would be careful in making calls on his selection for the five ODIs that follow. Although the BCCI hasn’t made it official yet, Suryansh Shedge, one of the two seam-bowling all-rounders alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy, is currently training at BCCI’s CoE and could well be drafted in as Hardik Pandya’s replacement for the three A games against Australia A. Reddy Ready to Take All-Rounder’s Spot: Morkel Team India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel believes that Nitish Reddy could fight for that all-rounder’s spot in the Indian team. After impressing with his maiden Test hundred at the MCG in December 2024, Reddy began emerging as a prospect across formats, with his bowling building on that momentum. In Pandya’s absence, India is keen on having a seam-bowling all-rounder in their ranks, and Reddy’s gradual rise keeps him ahead of his contemporaries. "I think Nitish, if we just rewind to the T20s, the way he bowled in different situations has been very impressive," Morkel said of Reddy’s talent. "The message to him all the time is just to keep things simple and do the basics as well as possible. I think he's a very talented guy when it comes to bat, ball and field. He always wants to be the guy who wants to create opportunities, and having that mindset is fantastic." "I think the role that we want him to play in certain situations is: how can we ask him to be as consistent; how well can he fulfil just doing the basics as best as possible. I think that is another thing where we need to give him those opportunities to learn and grow. "Luckily, we do have a bit of time now, and it will be great for Indian cricket if we can keep on developing him and for him to compete for that allrounder spot. He's got all the talent and all the ability to do that, but for us it's just important to manage him quite well, to give him quite a simple role in terms of what he needs to do for the team,” he continued.

Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India's tour of New Zealand and Australia A series due to a shin injury. Nitish Kumar Reddy set to step up.

Hardik Pandya ruled out of New Zealand T20Is, Australia A series with shin injury

In a massive blow to New Zealand, all-rounder Rachin Ravindra suffered a ‘freak injury’ during a promotional shoot in Auckland earlier this week. The left-handed batter dislocated his shoulder after landing awkwardly on the safety mat while attempting a diving catch during filming. Rachin underwent initial assessments on Friday, with medical specialists clearing him of any major structural damage. Although the NZC statement on the subject did not mention how long Rachin would be out of action, it said that his return would be determined by ‘his progress during the first few weeks of his rehabilitation.’&nbsp;New Zealand will host India for a full tour, starting with five T20Is late next month. With the T20I squad set to be announced next week, the NZC said it was unclear if Rachin will feature in the marquee series.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brydon-carse-derby-nightclub-incident-police-drop-charges-1789787431585">Fast bowler Brydon Carse faces no charges over Derby nightclub incident</a>&nbsp;"It was a really unfortunate injury," New Zealand performance manager Mike Sandle said. "We're gutted for Rachin and our key priority is making sure he recovers well and gets back on the field as soon as he can.&nbsp;"As with all commercial shoots involving our players, the activities were agreed in advance by all parties, with appropriate safety measures in place. It was a bit of a freak accident, and we'll continue to review our processes around events like this in the future,” he continued.&nbsp;New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said they will not rush Rachin’s comeback.&nbsp;"With a heavy schedule of Test cricket in the next six months, we don't want to rush Rachin back sooner than we need to," he said. "He's in great hands in terms of his rehab, and we look forward to welcoming him back soon."&nbsp;Meanwhile, Rachin has been New Zealand’s brightest prospect across formats. Since making headlines for his whirlwind knock against England in the 2023 ODI World Cup opener, where he smashed an unbeaten 123 during the successful chase, Rachin has built on the momentum. Impressive showings in the remaining two formats made him a key member of New Zealand’s core.&nbsp;India will tour New Zealand for five T20Is, as many ODIs and two Tests.&nbsp;

Rachin Ravindra faces a race against time for the India T20Is after suffering a 'freak' shoulder injury during a promotional shoot. Get the latest update.

In a massive blow to New Zealand, all-rounder Rachin Ravindra suffered a ‘freak injury’ during a promotional shoot in Auckland earlier this week. The left-handed batter dislocated his shoulder after landing awkwardly on the safety mat while attempting a diving catch during filming. Rachin underwent initial assessments on Friday, with medical specialists clearing him of any major structural damage. Although the NZC statement on the subject did not mention how long Rachin would be out of action, it said that his return would be determined by ‘his progress during the first few weeks of his rehabilitation.’ New Zealand will host India for a full tour, starting with five T20Is late next month. With the T20I squad set to be announced next week, the NZC said it was unclear if Rachin will feature in the marquee series. Also read| Fast bowler Brydon Carse faces no charges over Derby nightclub incident "It was a really unfortunate injury," New Zealand performance manager Mike Sandle said. "We're gutted for Rachin and our key priority is making sure he recovers well and gets back on the field as soon as he can. "As with all commercial shoots involving our players, the activities were agreed in advance by all parties, with appropriate safety measures in place. It was a bit of a freak accident, and we'll continue to review our processes around events like this in the future,” he continued. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said they will not rush Rachin’s comeback. "With a heavy schedule of Test cricket in the next six months, we don't want to rush Rachin back sooner than we need to," he said. "He's in great hands in terms of his rehab, and we look forward to welcoming him back soon." Meanwhile, Rachin has been New Zealand’s brightest prospect across formats. Since making headlines for his whirlwind knock against England in the 2023 ODI World Cup opener, where he smashed an unbeaten 123 during the successful chase, Rachin has built on the momentum. Impressive showings in the remaining two formats made him a key member of New Zealand’s core. India will tour New Zealand for five T20Is, as many ODIs and two Tests.

Rachin Ravindra faces a race against time for the India T20Is after suffering a 'freak' shoulder injury during a promotional shoot. Get the latest update.

Rachin Ravindra doubtful for India T20Is after suffering 'freak injury' during promo shoot

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has opened an unused sixth-tier seating area at Eden Park in Auckland for the first time in six years for the 4th T20I against India, having last been used during a match against the Men in Blue in 2019. A surge in ticket demand for India’s tour of New Zealand later this winter forced the home board to tap the unused seating space for the crowd. &nbsp;“High demand at Eden Park has required the stadium’s sixth tier of seating to open for the first time since the 2019 India tour of New Zealand, with the upper level available for the fourth T20I against India on Friday, October 30,” said NZC in a statement. &nbsp;“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015 and a men’s T20I against Australia in 2018 are the only other times in recent history that the sixth tier has opened up, signalling huge anticipation for the rematch between this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finalists.”&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-root-surpasses-waugh-ponting-third-most-capped-test-player-1788955580781">Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player</a> &nbsp;Over 50,000 tickets have been sold in the first week of tickets going live for the public. The NZC opened tickets for the fans on Monday after a two-week pre-sale window ‘for Cricket Nation members, Sky customers, and ANZ customers, with several matches on track to sell out, including the second T20I against India in Christchurch which sits at 75% sold out.’ &nbsp;Considering India will tour New Zealand for a full tour, including white-ball matches (ODIs and T20Is) and two Tests, NZC’s Head of Marketing Tim Ellis said that the board is ‘deep into planning for a number of events surrounding the tour and have some exciting at-game activations in the works.’ &nbsp;“Being able to open up the top level of Eden Park for the first time in years is really exciting and speaks to the swell of excitement building around the tour,” he said. “Matches at Hagley Oval (which will host the first two T20Is and the second Test) have always been well attended, but to have one of them over three-quarters sold already is quite remarkable.”

NZC opens Eden Park's sixth tier for the 4th T20I against India as ticket sales surge past 50,000 in the first week for the 2026 tour.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has opened an unused sixth-tier seating area at Eden Park in Auckland for the first time in six years for the 4th T20I against India, having last been used during a match against the Men in Blue in 2019. A surge in ticket demand for India’s tour of New Zealand later this winter forced the home board to tap the unused seating space for the crowd. “High demand at Eden Park has required the stadium’s sixth tier of seating to open for the first time since the 2019 India tour of New Zealand, with the upper level available for the fourth T20I against India on Friday, October 30,” said NZC in a statement. “The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015 and a men’s T20I against Australia in 2018 are the only other times in recent history that the sixth tier has opened up, signalling huge anticipation for the rematch between this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finalists.” Also read| Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player Over 50,000 tickets have been sold in the first week of tickets going live for the public. The NZC opened tickets for the fans on Monday after a two-week pre-sale window ‘for Cricket Nation members, Sky customers, and ANZ customers, with several matches on track to sell out, including the second T20I against India in Christchurch which sits at 75% sold out.’ Considering India will tour New Zealand for a full tour, including white-ball matches (ODIs and T20Is) and two Tests, NZC’s Head of Marketing Tim Ellis said that the board is ‘deep into planning for a number of events surrounding the tour and have some exciting at-game activations in the works.’ “Being able to open up the top level of Eden Park for the first time in years is really exciting and speaks to the swell of excitement building around the tour,” he said. “Matches at Hagley Oval (which will host the first two T20Is and the second Test) have always been well attended, but to have one of them over three-quarters sold already is quite remarkable.”

NZC opens Eden Park's sixth tier for the 4th T20I against India as ticket sales surge past 50,000 in the first week for the 2026 tour.

NZC opens Auckland’s unused seating tier for India T20I amid surge in ticket demand

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-match Test series in late November. The ‘A’ games, from October 24 to November 10, will run parallel with India’s white-ball leg against the Kiwis, including five T20Is and three ODIs from October 22 to November 15. While the first ‘A’ match will be played from October 24 to 27 in Lincoln, the second will get underway from October 31 to November 3 in Christchurch and the third from November 7 to 10 in Lincoln. &nbsp;However, the ‘A’ series will also overlap with the domestic tournaments of both India and New Zealand. &nbsp;For the Indian players, this ‘A’ series will clash with the Ranji Trophy tournament, which starts on October 11 – meaning those picked for four-day matches in New Zealand will miss the opening rounds of the Ranji Trophy for their state teams. On the other hand, the ‘A’ tour will coincide with the Ford Trophy (One-Day Tournament), which takes place from October 28 to November 12.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tilak-varma-south-zone-north-zone-duleep-trophy-semifinal-2026-1788346593695">Tilak Varma's masterclass drives South Zone into Duleep Trophy final</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, India and New Zealand will see this ‘A’ series as preparatory matches for the two-match Test series, crucial to their respective World Test Championship (WTC) standings.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Kiwis, placed third in the current WTC standings, will first host India before touring Australia for four Tests from November to January. After that, New Zealand will host Sri Lanka and travel to Pakistan as part of their WTC schedule. &nbsp;Elsewhere, India is fifth in the standings after winning the away Sri Lanka Tests 1-0. The New Zealand Test series is their next assignment before they host Australia for five Tests in January-February next year, wrapping up their WTC schedule for this cycle. &nbsp;While Australia, South Africa and even New Zealand are top contenders for the 2027 WTC Final, two-time runners-up India could also make a late push for qualification. For Shubman Gill’s side to qualify for their third WTC Final, they must win at least five of their remaining seven matches.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-Test WTC series in November. Read the full tour schedule and WTC breakdown.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-match Test series in late November. The ‘A’ games, from October 24 to November 10, will run parallel with India’s white-ball leg against the Kiwis, including five T20Is and three ODIs from October 22 to November 15. While the first ‘A’ match will be played from October 24 to 27 in Lincoln, the second will get underway from October 31 to November 3 in Christchurch and the third from November 7 to 10 in Lincoln. However, the ‘A’ series will also overlap with the domestic tournaments of both India and New Zealand. For the Indian players, this ‘A’ series will clash with the Ranji Trophy tournament, which starts on October 11 – meaning those picked for four-day matches in New Zealand will miss the opening rounds of the Ranji Trophy for their state teams. On the other hand, the ‘A’ tour will coincide with the Ford Trophy (One-Day Tournament), which takes place from October 28 to November 12. Also read| Tilak Varma's masterclass drives South Zone into Duleep Trophy final Meanwhile, India and New Zealand will see this ‘A’ series as preparatory matches for the two-match Test series, crucial to their respective World Test Championship (WTC) standings. The Kiwis, placed third in the current WTC standings, will first host India before touring Australia for four Tests from November to January. After that, New Zealand will host Sri Lanka and travel to Pakistan as part of their WTC schedule. Elsewhere, India is fifth in the standings after winning the away Sri Lanka Tests 1-0. The New Zealand Test series is their next assignment before they host Australia for five Tests in January-February next year, wrapping up their WTC schedule for this cycle. While Australia, South Africa and even New Zealand are top contenders for the 2027 WTC Final, two-time runners-up India could also make a late push for qualification. For Shubman Gill’s side to qualify for their third WTC Final, they must win at least five of their remaining seven matches.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-Test WTC series in November. Read the full tour schedule and WTC breakdown.

India A to play three four-day games in New Zealand ahead of Test series

The IPL 2026 is over, and Team India will be back playing international cricket, with the first goal being to qualify for the WTC Final next year. Currently sixth on the WTC table for the 2025-27 cycle, India will play nine scheduled Tests, including two against New Zealand later this winter. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced its schedule for the home summer, with the Men in Blue slated to play five T20Is and as many ODIs in the 12-match full-fledged tour from October to December.&nbsp;India will begin its tour with five T20Is, starting with the first two at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22 and 24. Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton will then host the remaining three T20Is on October 27, 30 and November 1, respectively. Following a two-day window, Auckland will host the ODI series opener on November 4. Wellington (November 7) and Hamilton (November 10) are venues for the second and the third ODI, with Mount Maunganui staging the final two One-Dayers on November 13 and 15, respectively.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-3rd-t20i-harmanpreet-s-50-goes-in-vain-as-england-seal-series-2-1-after-capsey-and-knight-masterclass-1780450151980">IND-W vs ENG-W 3rd T20I: Harmanpreet's 50 goes in vain as England seal series 2-1 after Capsey and Knight masterclass</a> &nbsp;The Test series gets underway in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test scheduled in Christchurch starting November 27. &nbsp;"The New Zealand government will be supporting the inbound India tour alongside adjacent sporting tours by India later in the year, as 100 years of sporting ties between New Zealand and India are commemorated," the NZC statement said. &nbsp;For India, this tour would hold great significance. While the 10 white-ball games will help them prepare for the ODI and T20 World Cups that follow, the two Tests will be Team India’s priority. To qualify for their third WTC final, India must at least win seven of their remaining nine Tests, two of which would be played on quick and double-paced New Zealand pitches. &nbsp;Yet to win a Test series in New Zealand since 2009, Shubman Gill-led India’s Test team will aim to end their winning drought in those challenging conditions. &nbsp;New Zealand, however, will also host Sri Lanka for three ODIs, as many T20Is and two Tests from January 16 to February 12. In between the two series, New Zealand will also host Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs from December 10 to 23.&nbsp;<h3>Check Team India's Full Schedule -&nbsp;</h3>T20I Series -<ul><li>1st T20I - October 22</li><li>2nd T20I – October 24</li><li>3rd T20I – October 27</li><li>4th T20I – October 30</li><li>5th T20I – November 1</li></ul>ODI Series –<ul><li>1st ODI – November 4</li><li>2nd ODI – November 7</li><li>3rd ODI – November 10</li><li>4th ODI – November 13</li><li>5th ODI – November 15</li></ul>Test Series –<ul><li>1st Test – November 19 to 2</li><li>2nd Test – November 27 to December 1</li></ul>

Get the full schedule, match dates, and venues for India's marathon 12-match winter tour of New Zealand 2026. Can Shubman Gill's men seal vital WTC points?

The IPL 2026 is over, and Team India will be back playing international cricket, with the first goal being to qualify for the WTC Final next year. Currently sixth on the WTC table for the 2025-27 cycle, India will play nine scheduled Tests, including two against New Zealand later this winter. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced its schedule for the home summer, with the Men in Blue slated to play five T20Is and as many ODIs in the 12-match full-fledged tour from October to December. India will begin its tour with five T20Is, starting with the first two at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22 and 24. Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton will then host the remaining three T20Is on October 27, 30 and November 1, respectively. Following a two-day window, Auckland will host the ODI series opener on November 4. Wellington (November 7) and Hamilton (November 10) are venues for the second and the third ODI, with Mount Maunganui staging the final two One-Dayers on November 13 and 15, respectively. Also read | IND-W vs ENG-W 3rd T20I: Harmanpreet's 50 goes in vain as England seal series 2-1 after Capsey and Knight masterclass The Test series gets underway in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test scheduled in Christchurch starting November 27. "The New Zealand government will be supporting the inbound India tour alongside adjacent sporting tours by India later in the year, as 100 years of sporting ties between New Zealand and India are commemorated," the NZC statement said. For India, this tour would hold great significance. While the 10 white-ball games will help them prepare for the ODI and T20 World Cups that follow, the two Tests will be Team India’s priority. To qualify for their third WTC final, India must at least win seven of their remaining nine Tests, two of which would be played on quick and double-paced New Zealand pitches. Yet to win a Test series in New Zealand since 2009, Shubman Gill-led India’s Test team will aim to end their winning drought in those challenging conditions. New Zealand, however, will also host Sri Lanka for three ODIs, as many T20Is and two Tests from January 16 to February 12. In between the two series, New Zealand will also host Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs from December 10 to 23. Check Team India's Full Schedule - T20I Series - 1st T20I - October 22 2nd T20I – October 24 3rd T20I – October 27 4th T20I – October 30 5th T20I – November 1 ODI Series – 1st ODI – November 4 2nd ODI – November 7 3rd ODI – November 10 4th ODI – November 13 5th ODI – November 15 Test Series – 1st Test – November 19 to 2 2nd Test – November 27 to December 1

Get the full schedule, match dates, and venues for India's marathon 12-match winter tour of New Zealand 2026. Can Shubman Gill's men seal vital WTC points?

2 WTC Tests, 10 white-ball games: India set for marathon New Zealand tour this winter| Check full schedule