New Zealand Name ODI Squad for India Series as Rachin Ravindra Returns

New Zealand Cricket announced the squad for the upcoming five-match ODI series against India, which gets underway on November 4 in Auckland. The touring schedule features matches across Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, and Mount Maunganui, serving as vital preparation for next year's World Cup.

All-rounder Rachin Ravindra makes his return to the side after recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined him during the recent T20I matches against Shreyas Iyer's team. Ravindra is named in the squad for the opening three encounters alongside players like captain Mitchell Santner.

However, squad availability remains split due to an upcoming two-match Test series against India starting shortly after the final ODI. Key personnel including Ravindra, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, and Tim Seifert will not feature across all five fixtures to allow adequate red-ball acclimatisation.

Only Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Will Young, and Blair Tickner are available for the entire duration of the five ODIs. Seven additional players join the roster for the final two games to test squad depth against a world-class opposition.

Coach Rob Walter emphasized the strategic importance of the series with the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe on the horizon. Management aims to evaluate combinations and assess bench strength while balancing critical championship points in the longest format.