India vs New Zealand 2026: 3 surprise picks in India’s squad

The BCCI’s Men’s Selection Committee announced India’s ODI and Test squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand on October 17, 2026. The tour will feature five ODIs and two Tests after the T20I series concludes. While several familiar names feature across both squads, a handful of selections have raised eyebrows among cricket followers.

 Here are three picks that stand out as unexpected choices:-

3. Yash Thakur

Yash Thakur is a right-arm pacer who has built his reputation through domestic cricket and the IPL. He made his T20I debut during India’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2026, marking his entry into international cricket. Thakur finds a place in the ODI squad for the final two matches of the five-game series against New Zealand. His inclusion reflects the selectors’ intent to assess fast-bowling options as India plan their pace attack with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle.

Thakur has not yet featured in an ODI for India, making this call-up a significant step in his international journey. His domestic performances and IPL outings have kept him in the selectors’ radar, and this tour offers him a genuine opportunity to stake a claim at the highest level of the 50-over format.

2. Kumar Kushagra

Kumar Kushagra is an uncapped wicketkeeper-batter who has earned his maiden national call-up for the New Zealand tour. He is named in the ODI squad for the last two matches of the series, where he is set to replace KL Rahul behind the stumps. For the opening three ODIs, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan are the designated wicketkeeping options, with Kushagra stepping in thereafter.

The young gloveman has gained recognition through his domestic cricket performances and is regarded as a promising talent in Indian cricket circles. His selection signals that the BCCI is keen to blood new wicketkeeping talent in the ODI format. Kushagra’s call-up is one of the more surprising inclusions in the squad, given that he has not previously represented India at any level of international cricket.

1. Anshul Kamboj

Anshul Kamboj, born on December 6, 2000, in Karnal, Haryana, is a right-arm medium-pace bowling all-rounder who represents Haryana in domestic cricket. At 25 years of age, Kamboj has been named in both the ODI squad for the first three matches and the Test squad for the New Zealand tour. He received his Test cap, numbered 318, making him one of the more recent additions to India’s Test fold.

His inclusion across formats on this tour is an unexpected development, as Kamboj is not a widely discussed name in mainstream selection conversations. The selectors appear to have rewarded his consistent domestic showings with a multi-format opportunity. India will be looking to see how Kamboj performs in New Zealand conditions, which are known to assist seam and swing bowling, a style that suits his skill set.

Shubman Gill’s squad for the New Zealand tour 2026

Squad for the New Zealand tour (ODIs 1-3):

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.

Squad for the New Zealand tour (ODIs 4-5):

Shreyas Iyer (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (WK, VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav.