When the selectors choose a 15-man Indian ODI squad on Saturday for a three-match series against New Zealand that begins on January 11 in Vadodara, the unstoppable combo of Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj is likely to be the main topic of conversation.
Although there won’t be any significant changes to the team that defeated South Africa in a previous series a few weeks ago, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar could address two particular issues.
The first point might be Pant’s role as the second wicketkeeper given that Dhruv Chand Jurel scored a “Daddy Hundred” for UP in the domestic circuit and Ishan Kishan demonstrated his striking ability in the middle order for Jharkhand.
Both Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have demonstrated a propensity to choose players according to squad composition. As a result, they have chosen keepers who are openers in T20 Internationals, such as Kishan and Sanju Samson. The same keeper must be a middle-order hitter in ODIs, starting at No. 5 or No. 6.
To be fair, Pant has only participated in one ODI between July 2024 and December 2025 since Gambhir took over as head coach. The resilient Rourkee man’s potential isn’t fully reflected in just 31 ODI matches in eight years with an average of less than 35. Even his biggest critics would concur that he outperforms Kishan and Jurel in terms of influence.
However, neither the head coach nor the selection committee were impressed by his shot selection in the most recent lost Guwahati Test against South Africa. However, dropping someone without giving him a fair shot can also cause some unease.
The choice of pacers for the three-match series is the second topic to be covered.
It will be fascinating to watch if the selectors decide to give a break to two speedsters, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, both of whom participated in the most recent South Africa series. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are probably going to be rested in preparation for the T20 World Cup.
However, Siraj participated in the away series against Australia before being passed over for the South Africa assignment, despite not being selected for the Champions Trophy due to conditions.
Siraj may play for Hyderabad in two of the final three rounds of the current Vijay Hazare Trophy, although he hasn’t participated in the first four rounds either. After being a consistent player till the 2023 World Cup, his exclusion from the 50-over format has been puzzling.
Mohammed Shami has represented Bengal in a variety of formats, but some believe he is passed his peak in terms of playing international cricket. Additionally, there hasn’t been much clarity in the communication between Shami and the selection committee.
Devdutt Padikkal (opener) and Sarfaraz Khan (number four) are two serious contenders among the Vijay Hazare Trophy performers.
It would be challenging to bring in Padikkal, though, since Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have already secured a spot.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has already jumped ahead of Sarfaraz Khan among contenders with a hundred versus South Africa, despite Sarfaraz Khan’s outstanding performance on the domestic circuit.
The five wise men’s decision to uphold the status quo would ultimately render all selection discussions meaningless.
