The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce Team India’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, and the delay has raised eyebrows. What makes the situation even more intriguing is that the T20 series, scheduled after the three ODIs, has already been announced. So why the silence?
The answer lies in uncertainty, evaluation, and a few unresolved questions at the top.
Key Developments So Far:
- Shubman Gill is set to return as captain, with his deputy Shreyas Iyer.
- Rurutaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are likely to keep their spots.
- Ishan Kishan, who was named in India's T20 World Cup squad, is likely to replace Dhruv Jurel in the ODI squad.
- And Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are set to be rested
The Kohli Question
The biggest talking point, however, remains Virat Kohli. Will he be included in the ODI squad?
Reports had suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir had asked the BCCI to rest Kohli for the series. But these claims have been dismissed as mere speculation. There is no official confirmation that Kohli has been asked to step away, and sources within the board have labelled such reports as rumours with no factual backing.
Debunking the Coaching Rumours
Another sensational rumour making the rounds claimed that VVS Laxman was set to replace Gambhir as India’s head coach, with Gambhir being pushed into a domestic coaching role. The BCCI has categorically denied this narrative.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has gone on record to call the reports “baseless,” making it clear that there is no change in the coaching structure and no truth to the speculation. "This is totally incorrect news going on. This is totally speculative news. Some very reputed news agencies are also flashing the news. There is no truth to it. BCCI straight away denies. People can think all they want, but BCCI has not taken any steps. This is somebody's figment of imagination; there is no truth in it, and I cannot say anything except that this is factually incorrect and baseless news," Saikia clarified to ANI.
So, What’s Causing the Delay?
The real reason behind the delayed announcement is the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. The BCCI and the selection committee are closely tracking performances in India’s premier domestic one-day competition, using it as a critical benchmark before finalising the squad.
With several spots still up for grabs, the selectors are keen to reward current form rather than rely solely on reputation. A selection meeting is expected to take place on January 3 or 4, after which the ODI squad should finally be announced.
Until then, the suspense continues. and the message from the BCCI is clear: no spot is guaranteed, and performance remains king.
Also Watch: 3 Tons, 3 Fifties - Virat Kohli's fire burning brighter than ever before
