Aakash Chopra picks India's squad for IND vs NZ 2026 ODIs, no place for Sanju Samson

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked his Men in Blue squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Sanju Samson failed to find a place in his chosen squad.

India will face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series, with the first game to be played in Vadodara on January 11. Samson hasn't played an ODI since scoring a 114-ball 108 in India's 78-run win in the series-deciding final game against South Africa in Paarl in December 2023.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener chose Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as his top three in the likely playing XI.

"Gill is fit and available, and he will be back as a captain. There will be no questions there. Rohit Sharma will be seen opening with him, which means Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a century, but he will have to wait. At No. 3, Player of the Series Virat Kohli, who is looking like a man on a mission," he said. (2:00)

Chopra picked Ruturaj Gaikwad, in Shreyas Iyer's potential absence, and KL Rahul to bat at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

"The update on Shreyas Iyer is that he won't be available for this series. So don't be surprised if his name is not there, and if his name is not there, Ruturaj continues at No. 4. At No. 5, I have got KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper, as a batter, and maybe as a vice-captain in the side," he elaborated.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the selectors would have to choose between Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja as a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder.

"After that, there is a call that who should be taken between Axar and Jaddu. At times, you feel like Axar Patel will play the five T20Is, so Jaddu can be kept here and Axar can be kept there, but Jaddu's performance was slightly fifty-fifty in the last series. So I think Axar Patel is ahead of him in the race from a long-term perspective. One between the two, not both of them," Chopra observed.

Ravindra Jadeja scored 56 runs at an average of 56.00 in two innings in India's last ODI series against South Africa. However, he managed just a solitary wicket at an average of 157.00 in the three-match series.

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"There is a place for Washington Sundar in my team" - Aakash Chopra

Washington Sundar went wicketless and scored 14 runs in the two ODIs he played against South Africa. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra picked Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma in his first-choice XI to add depth to the batting.

"After that, there is a place for Washington Sundar in my team. Although Washi didn't play the last match and Tilak Varma played in his place, I will keep both Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma because continuity is important," he said.

The analyst chose Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh as the three frontline seamers in his preferred XI.

"After that, I have kept Harshit Rana. He won you a game. He did well in Sydney and his performance against South Africa was also good. After that, I am saying bring Siraj back. It's enough now. So Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. This is the story close to my XI," Chopra observed.

While highlighting that Kuldeep Yadav can replace a seamer in the XI, Chopra picked the left-arm wrist-spinner and Prasidh Krishna as the other bowlers in the squad.

"Kuldeep Yadav can come in that if there is no dew. You can drop a fast bowler and play Kuldeep Yadav. So at No. 12, I have got Kuldeep Yadav. After that, I will keep Prasidh Krishna in the team. I need an extra fast bowler. You don't play Nitish Kumar Reddy at all. So I haven't kept his name in the team. I will rather keep a proper fast bowler whom I can play," he elaborated.

The former India batter completed his squad by choosing Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the reserve wicketkeeper and opener, respectively.

"At No. 14, I will keep Rishabh Pant, although there was a ruckus as to why Rishabh Pant needs to be kept, that Ishan Kishan or Dhruv Jurel can be kept. You can keep anyone, but also tell what Rishabh Pant's mistake is. I am not picking Varun Chakaravarthy. I am getting Yashasvi Jaiswal, just in case you need him," Chopra stated.

Aakash Chopra's Indian squad for IND vs NZ 2026 ODIs: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Axar Patel/Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Tilak Varma, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal

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Edited by Kartik Iyer