As the Indian cricket team prepares to kick off its 2026 home international calendar, the squad is converging in Baroda on Wednesday ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The opening encounter is slated for January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Baroda, with subsequent games in Rajkot and Indore.
Most players are expected to assemble today, January 7, but wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer will link up with the group slightly later due to their domestic commitments in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Pant, who is leading Delhi in the domestic 50-over competition, has been granted permission to complete his side’s final league fixture on January 8 before heading to the national camp. Selected as the reserve wicketkeeper behind KL Rahul, Pant has shown promising touches in the tournament, accumulating 212 runs across six innings. His contributions have come at an average of 42.4 and a healthy strike rate of 112.76, backed by two half-centuries. Notably, few of his knocks have arrived in challenging situations, aiding Delhi’s strong campaign under his captaincy. The national selectors have reportedly appreciated his dedication to domestic cricket amid a busy schedule. Pant had informed the DDCA about his availability for the Vijay Hazare Trophy months in advance.
Similarly, Shreyas Iyer will represent and lead Mumbai in their concluding group-stage clash against Punjab on January 8. The middle-order batter is making a gradual comeback after undergoing surgery for a spleen injury sustained during India’s tour of Australia in October 2025. He last featured for India in that series and has been under close observation by the BCCI’s medical staff at the Centre of Excellence. Iyer marked his return to competitive action with an explosive 82 off 53 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and three sixes, against Himachal Pradesh. Named in the ODI squad on a fitness-conditional basis, he is on track to participate, potentially in the series opener.
In the meantime, the rest of the Indian contingent is scheduled to hold its first practice session in Baroda on January 8, fine-tuning preparations for what promises to be an intriguing white-ball series against the Kiwis.
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