LSN News › India

World · India Bureau

BCCI reshapes India squad for New Zealand tour with captaincy rotation

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced significant changes to the Indian squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour, including a captaincy rotation in the ODI series and the return of several players to the Test team.

LSN India · 17 October 2026

BCCI reshapes India squad for New Zealand tour with captaincy rotation

The Indian cricket team will see multiple squad adjustments for its New Zealand tour, with the BCCI implementing a notable rotation in leadership across formats. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from the ODI portion of the tour and will feature only in the Test series, while Shreyas Iyer will captain India in the final two one-day internationals.

Seam bowlers Akash Deep and Ansul Kamboj have been recalled to the Test squad following their previous absence, strengthening India's pace attack for the red-ball format. The selection panel has also recalled middle-order batter Tilak Verma, signaling confidence in the young talent ahead of the Test matches.

In a significant development, wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagarth has earned his maiden call-up to the Indian team, reflecting the BCCI's continued focus on identifying and integrating emerging talent. The restructured squad reflects the board's approach of managing player workload while providing opportunities to fringe players seeking Test cricket exposure.

These changes underscore India's strategic planning as the team prepares for a demanding tour against the Black Caps, balancing the need to rest key players while maintaining competitive strength across both formats.