New Zealand ODI Squad for India 2026

The New Zealand ODI squad for India series is set. New Zealand Cricket announced a 21-player split squad on 11 October 2026 for the five-match ODI series against India, and Mitchell Santner will lead both groups through November. The series runs from 4 November to 15 November 2026 and acts as an early step toward the ICC ODI World Cup in 2027.

India arrives in New Zealand for a packed tour of five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. The Blackcaps have picked experience for the first three ODIs and fresh energy for the final two, with the Test players leaving early to prepare for the red-ball series. Read on for the full squad lists, the schedule, the venues, the start time and the players to watch on this exciting tour. For the wider picture of this rivalry, see the New Zealand vs India head-to-head record in ODIs.

New Zealand ODI Squad for India Series: Split Squads Announced for the Five ODIs

Source: CricTracker

New Zealand named two separate squads for the five ODIs against India, with the first group covering the matches in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton and the second group taking over for the two games in Mount Maunganui. White-ball skipper Mitchell Santner captains both sides, which gives the team a steady leader while the players around him change.

The group for the first three ODIs carries the core of the senior side. Rachin Ravindra returns after a shoulder injury ruled him out of the T20I series, and the selectors have added him straight into the top order. Devon Conway and Tom Latham bring stability with the bat, while Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips add power in the middle order.

The bowling attack for the opening games looks strong. Matt Henry leads the pace unit with Kyle Jamieson back in the mix, Jacob Duffy offers control with the new ball and Nathan Smith adds depth to the seam options. Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman and Will Young complete a balanced group of 14, and Blair Tickner stands ready as extra pace cover.

New Zealand Cricket confirmed the squads on 11 October, and the plan is clear. The first three ODIs will test the settled combinations, and the final two games will hand chances to a younger group. Follow the rest of the tour news in the cricket news section of Cricket Geek for daily updates.

Mitchell Santner to Captain New Zealand Against India in All Five ODIs

Source: New Zealand Cricket

Mitchell Santner is the captain of the New Zealand ODI squad for the India series 2026. The left-arm spinner keeps the captaincy across both groups, so the leadership stays constant while eight players leave the squad and seven fresh names arrive for the last two games.

Six players will feature in all five ODIs against India: Santner, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Will Young and Blair Tickner. That core gives the team continuity in a series where the playing group changes halfway through, and each of the six has a clear role in the side.

Santner has grown into one of the most trusted white-ball captains in world cricket. His bowling in the middle overs will be vital against the strong batting line-up of India, and his calm presence helps young players settle into the side. With the bat, he adds real strength at number seven or eight, which gives New Zealand depth in the lower order.

The captain also played a key role in the selection talks. New Zealand Cricket wants a settled core for the 2027 World Cup build-up, and keeping Santner at the centre of both groups shows that the selectors trust his judgement. His leadership across all five ODIs will set the tone for the entire series.

Rachin Ravindra Returns from Injury for the First Three ODIs

Rachin Ravindra is fit for the India ODI series. The young star missed the T20I series with a shoulder injury but has been declared ready for the 50-over format, and he is available for the first three ODIs in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton.

Ravindra hurt his shoulder during a promotional event in September 2026, which forced him to sit out the T20I matches against India. The medical team of New Zealand Cricket cleared him for the ODI series, and head coach Rob Walter spoke about his return as a big boost for the squad.

Ravindra is a genuine match-winner at the top of the order, and his left-handed batting gives New Zealand extra firepower in the powerplay. His return also adds a spin option with the ball, which matters on the slower pitches of Hamilton. He will play the first three games and then leave the squad with the other Test players to prepare for the first Test at the Basin Reserve on 19 November.

The selectors have backed him fully. After a tough month on the sidelines, Ravindra gets straight back into the playing group instead of spending time in domestic cricket. That shows how much New Zealand value his all-round skills as the World Cup build-up begins.

Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert Return for the Final Two ODIs

Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert are the three returning players for the last two ODIs. Allen and Ferguson last played an ODI in 2023, while Seifert earned his most recent cap against Pakistan in April 2025, around 18 months before this series.

Finn Allen, 27, is one of the most destructive openers in white-ball cricket, and the selectors want to see if he can bring the same power to the 50-over format. Lockie Ferguson, 35, last played an ODI in the 2023 World Cup semi-final against India in Mumbai, and his raw pace will test the Indian batters at the Bay Oval.

Seifert, 31, joins as the second wicketkeeper for the final two games alongside Mitch Hay. The new faces in this group are Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher and Nick Kelly, who get a golden chance to impress against a world-class side. Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman and Will Young stay on from the first group, and Mitchell Santner continues as captain.

The final two ODIs could shape the future of New Zealand in the 50-over format. Young players rarely get a home series against India, so the Bay Oval games will be watched closely by the selectors. A strong show here can push a player into the World Cup plans for 2027.

New Zealand vs India ODI Schedule November 2026: Dates, Venues and Start Time

The New Zealand vs India ODI series 2026 starts on 4 November 2026. The first ODI begins at 3:00 PM NZT at Eden Park in Auckland, and the action then moves to Wellington and Hamilton before finishing with two games at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Check the full India tour of New Zealand 2026 schedule for the complete list of fixtures.

The 1st ODI at Eden Park starts at 3:00 PM NZT, which is 7:30 AM IST for fans in India. All five games follow the same start time, so supporters can plan their day around the matches. Day games in New Zealand in November bring pleasant weather, and the pitches usually offer something for both the batters and the bowlers.

Eden Park in Auckland hosts the opener, Wellington hosts the second ODI, Seddon Park in Hamilton hosts the third, and the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui hosts both the fourth and fifth ODIs. New Zealand Cricket confirmed the venues as part of the India tour schedule, and tickets are expected to sell fast for the games in Auckland and Mount Maunganui.

The tour also includes five T20Is from 22 October to 1 November and two Tests from 19 November. The five ODIs sit in the middle of the tour, and the results will matter for the ICC ODI rankings as well as the World Cup build-up. New Zealand will also wear a special limited-edition Kotahitanga jersey during the series, with lotus flowers and mandala art marking 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries.

Why New Zealand Picked Two Squads: Workload, Test Preparation and the 2027 World Cup

New Zealand named split squads to manage player workloads and keep the Test series in sight. With the ODI World Cup only one year away, the selectors want to test a wider pool of players while the red-ball stars get ready for the World Test Championship series that follows the ODIs.

Head coach Rob Walter said the five ODIs are valuable preparation for the World Cup. He added that bringing seven new players for the final two ODIs allows the team to test depth against a world-class side. After the third ODI, the Test-bound players move to Wellington for extra preparation before the first Test at the Basin Reserve on 19 November.

The players leaving after the third ODI are Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Nathan Smith. They will join the red-ball group in Wellington, while the new arrivals get their chance at the Bay Oval. This kind of planning keeps the senior players fresh for the two Tests, which carry big World Test Championship points.

The 2027 ODI World Cup is the big target for this group. New Zealand want to find the right balance of experience and youth over the next year, and this series gives fringe players a rare chance to stake a claim. Zak Foulkes, Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears missed out as they continue injury rehabilitation, which shows how the selectors are thinking about the future.

Players to Watch in the New Zealand ODI Squad for the India Series

Mitchell Santner leads from the front. His left-arm spin and calm captaincy will be key in the middle overs, and his batting at number seven or eight gives the tail real strength. The captain sets the standard for the whole group.

Rachin Ravindra is the headline return. If he finds form at the top of the order, New Zealand will have a serious weapon in the powerplay overs. His all-round game makes him one of the most exciting young cricketers in the world.

Finn Allen brings box-office batting. The final two ODIs could be his stage if he gets the chance to open, and his aggressive style can change a game in ten overs. Lockie Ferguson adds raw pace, and Tim Seifert offers a smart option behind the stumps and with the bat.

Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell bring calm experience, while Matt Henry leads the pace attack of the first group. Tom Latham keeps wicket in the first three games and steadies the middle order, and the young guns like Kristian Clarke and Matt Fisher will be desperate to grab their moment.

Related coverage: read our West Indies Test squad for the Bangladesh tour 2026 and the Sri Lanka Test squad for the Pakistan series 2026 for more squad news from around the cricket world.

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