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By GT24x7 Reporter · 5 October 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

BCCI Selection Committee to Convene for Four Squad Selections

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee is scheduled to meet in the coming days to finalize four separate national squads for India’s upcoming multi-format tour of New Zealand. The tour, set to commence on October 22, 2026, includes five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), five One Day Internationals (ODIs), and two World Test Championship (WTC) Test matches. Additionally, an India A contingent will undertake a shadow tour featuring three unofficial Test fixtures starting November 19.

According to official sources within the board, the selection panel led by Pragyan Ojha will hold meetings on Tuesday or Wednesday to declare the rosters. To accommodate the extensive requirements across four teams, the BCCI has already processed visa documentation for 60 top national cricketers, ensuring operational readiness for the month-long assignment in New Zealand.

Akash Deep Set for Test Comeback After Seven-Month Injury Layoff

A central focus of the selection meeting will be the red-ball bowling lineup, where 29-year-old fast bowler Akash Deep is set to return to the national Test squad after a seven-month recovery period from a back injury. The right-arm pacer recently demonstrated his match fitness during the Irani Cup, bowling 24 overs across both innings for Rest of India and registering figures of 6 for 68.

Board officials confirmed that the Indian team management had instructed the domestic coaching staff to manage Akash Deep's workload during the Irani Cup to prepare him for international workloads. Medical assessments indicate he is bowling at full operational pace between 138 km/h and 140 km/h with no lingering discomfort. He is expected to join a seam bowling group comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnoor Brar, with additional seamers such as Auqib Nabi, Mukesh Kumar, or Anshul Kamboj under consideration.

Shreyas Iyer Likely to Captain India in Final Two ODIs

The selection committee faces tactical decisions regarding player workload due to a tight scheduling overlap between the white-ball and red-ball legs of the tour. The fifth and final ODI is scheduled for November 15 in Tauranga, while the first WTC Test match begins on November 19 in Wellington—leaving a gap of only four days, including travel time across New Zealand.

To ensure primary Test players are adequately rested and prepared for red-ball conditions, regular ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, along with key multi-format players including Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, may be rested for the final two ODIs. In Gill’s absence, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is slated to assume captaincy duties for the fourth and fifth ODI matches.

T20I Selection and India A Shadow Tour Framework

Selection for the T20I squad is expected to be straightforward, maintaining continuity from the Asian Games gold-winning team and recent bilateral T20I series. The five-match T20I series will mark the start of the tour on October 22, serving as a primary testing ground for white-ball combinations ahead of upcoming global tournaments.

Simultaneously, the India A shadow tour starting November 19 will allow fringe players and Test reserves to gain vital red-ball experience in New Zealand conditions. The three unofficial Tests will run parallel to the senior red-ball fixtures, providing immediate depth and replacement options for the main national squad throughout the WTC series.