The BCCI named split squads for the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, but several notable names were left out of both groups.
The BCCI announced the squads for India's five-match ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled from November 4 to 15, 2026. Two separate groups were named, with Shubman Gill captaining ODIs 1 to 3 and Shreyas Iyer taking charge for ODIs 4 and 5.
While the selections brought maiden ODI call-ups for Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar, a few experienced and in-form names were absent from both squads. Their omissions have become talking points among fans and observers.
Here are the 3 Indian players who deserved a place in the ODI squad for the NZ tour:
3. Ravindra Jadeja
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was not included in either of the two ODI squads for the New Zealand series. His absence has been described as one of the more notable talking points surrounding the selection announcement.
Jadeja is a left-arm spinner who also contributes with the bat and in the field. He had featured in ODI series against West Indies for India before this tour, making his exclusion harder to overlook. Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy were preferred as the all-round options in both squads, but Jadeja's experience and ability to influence a match across all three departments made him a strong case for inclusion. With no official selector comment available on the specific reason for his omission, the decision remains open to debate.