Published on: Oct 5, 2026 5:06 pm IST|Updated on: Oct 5, 2026 5:06 pm IST
Former Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is set to lead the men’s selection committee meeting as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prepares to announce the squads for India’s all-format tour of New Zealand scheduled for October-November. Ojha will serve as the interim chief selector following the end of Ajit Agarkar’s tenure. The 40-year-old will chair the four-member selection panel to finalise the teams across formats for the forthcoming tour.
Talking about the tour, Team India will be touring the picturesque New Zealand for an all-format series which will include 5 T20Is, 5 ODIs and will culminate with 2 Test matches. With Head Coach Gautam Gambhir actively involved in the team’s selection and consultations, the selection committee is expected to name a full-strength squad, particularly for Tests and ODIs, to meet the upcoming goals, i.e., the WTC 2027 final and the mega event, the ODI World Cup 2027.
Indian ODI and Test skipper Shubman Gill has expressed a clear preference for having the first-choice players for the ODI series, as his focus is on preparing the team for the next year’s ODI World Cup co-hosted by Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The selectors are expected to acknowledge Shubman’s request and ensure top players are in the ODI squad.
At the same time, the selectors are also wary of the fact that India is still in contention to play the World Test Championship 2027 final. In case India wins both their Test matches in New Zealand, they will keep their final hopes alive. Therefore, expect the selection committee to choose the best squad for the Test series as well.
Bengal fast bowlers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep have emerged as frontrunners for inclusion in India’s Test squad for the New Zealand tour, following stellar performances in domestic red-ball cricket.
Playing for the Rest of India in the recent Irani Cup match in Srinagar, the duo delivered a remarkable combined performance to lead their side to a 167-run victory over Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir. Mukesh produced an extraordinary second-innings spell of 6 for 33 to finish with match figures of 8 for 50, while Akash Deep—returning from an injury layoff—backed him up effectively with match figures of 6 for 88.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has kept a close watch on domestic form and is expected to provide positive feedback on both pacers during the selection meeting. Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep are expected to join a formidable seam attack alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, providing India with vital seam movement, control, and bounce on responsive pitch conditions in New Zealand.
With the selection meeting scheduled between October 5 and October 11, the official squad announcements across all three formats are expected shortly. As of now, Team India will be hosting the West Indies for a 5-match T20I series from October 6. The hosts already won the 3-match ODI series preceding the T20Is by a margin of 2-1 and now will be hoping for yet another complete performance in the T20Is.