3 surprise exclusions in India’s squad for tour of New Zealand

The BCCI announced India’s squads for a five-match ODI series and a Test series against New Zealand on October 16, 2026. The five-match ODI series begins on November 4 in Auckland, with Shubman Gill captaining the side for the first three matches and Shreyas Iyer taking charge for the final two.

The selection panel named two separate ODI squads for the tour, with several changes between the two groups. A few notable omissions have drawn attention since the announcement, with selectors appearing to rotate and plan ahead for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Here are three surprise exclusions in India’s squad for tour of New Zealand:

1. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja has been left out of India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand tour entirely. The veteran all-rounder struggled to make an impact in the ODI series against West Indies, and selectors have replaced him with Axar Patel in the spin-bowling all-rounder role. Jadeja does retain his place in the Test squad for the same tour, so his white-ball absence is the key talking point. Reports indicate that selectors are no longer considering Jadeja a central figure in their ODI plans going forward. Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy are now providing the all-round balance in the fifty-over format. Jadeja’s lower-order batting stability, tight bowling and fielding expertise were qualities associated with his ODI role, but the selectors have opted to move on in this format.

2. Saransh Jain

Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Saransh Jain has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, regularly contributing with crucial wickets in the Ranji Trophy. His ability to generate drift and bounce makes him a valuable option in the red-ball format. His omission leaves India without a specialist backup off-spinner behind Washington Sundar, potentially limiting their spin-bowling options.

3. Manav Suthar

Left-arm orthodox spinner Manav Suthar has impressed with his performances for India A in first-class cricket, showcasing his ability to trouble quality batters. His ability to generate drift, turn, and bounce could make him a useful option in New Zealand conditions. With Ravindra Jadeja nearing the latter stages of his career, Suthar could also be considered a potential long-term spin-bowling option for India. He finished as the leading wicket-taker during India’s tour of Sri Lanka.