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Mohammed Shami IN: India ODI squads for New Zealand tour 2026 [Predicted]

India’s selectors are reportedly preparing two distinct squads for their five-match ODI series against New Zealand in November 2026, with a focus on balancing workloads ahead of the ICC World Test Championship cycle. The full-strength team for the first three ODIs will feature experienced campaigners like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Shami, who has strengthened his selection chances with a standout Ranji Trophy performance—taking 5 wickets for 59 runs, including a first-innings haul of 4 for 30 against Delhi.

Shami’s inclusion addresses India’s need for pace options, as Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss the series for an India A commitment and Prasidh Krishna recovers from injury. Shubman Gill is expected to lead the opening trio of matches before he and other Test-bound players—including KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel—depart early for Wellington to prepare for the WTC opener on November 19.

For the final two ODIs, Shreyas Iyer will take over as captain, with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson potentially bolstering the batting lineup, while young spinners like Suryansh Shedge and Varun Chakravarthy could replace those leaving for the red-ball series.

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