Ravichandran Ashwin, the former India off-spinner, has publicly raised questions about why Yashasvi Jaiswal was left out of the squad named for the forthcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Jaiswal finds no place in either squad covering the fourth and fifth ODIs, with Ishan Kishan lined up alongside Rohit Sharma at the top of the batting order, despite Shubman Gill's confirmed absence from both matches.

The move has thrown into uncertainty where Jaiswal fits among India's reserve openers as the 2027 ODI World Cup draws nearer.

Questions about Jaiswal's omission have drawn notice given that Gill is reported to be unavailable for the last two matches of the five-game ODI series. Ishan Kishan has been handed a place in the squad with the expectation that he will partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order across the remaining matches, a decision that left Jaiswal out of the selection picture.

Ashwin raised the point that Jaiswal deserved consideration for a place in the side across the last two ODIs against New Zealand, rather than being left out of the squad. Gill's unavailability opened a spot, and handing that place to Jaiswal would have given him a chance to build experience in the one-day game, Ashwin noted. With the 2027 ODI World Cup scheduled roughly a year away, Ashwin identified the absence as a point worth examining.

Jaiswal's omission leaves his ODI prospects uncertain, with other openers now ahead of him in the queue for a berth at the top of the order. Positions at the top of India's batting lineup have become more contested as the squad prepares for the next ODI World Cup.

Shubman Gill has been appointed to lead India across the opening three matches of the ODI series, with Shreyas Iyer named alongside him as his deputy. Sixteen players have been named to the squad for the opening three ODIs, comprising Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav, while Prasidh Krishna's place in the group remains contingent on him meeting the relevant selection and fitness requirements. The group draws together a blend of seasoned international campaigners and players still building their careers at that level.

Captaincy for the remaining two ODIs falls to Shreyas Iyer, with Ishan Kishan named in the squad in a wicketkeeper-batter capacity. For the fourth and fifth ODIs, Ishan Kishan will serve as wicketkeeper and vice-captain alongside fellow gloveman Kumar Kushagra; the batting lineup draws on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Naman Dhir, while the bowling resources include Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra, and Yash Thakur all hold places in the side, with Jaiswal not among those named to the group.

The BCCI has also named its squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand, with Jasprit Bumrah back in the red-ball fold and Rishabh Pant's place in the lineup contingent on him receiving a fitness clearance. Bumrah's return to Test cricket — his previous appearance in that format dating to November 2025 — will see him anchor India's pace attack when the series opener gets under way at Wellington on Thursday, 19 November 2026.

Two Tests are slated for New Zealand in late 2026, the first taking place at Wellington on 19 November and the second moving to Christchurch for 27 November. Pant's place in the squad has been confirmed, though whether he takes the field will hinge on a medical assessment clearing him to play.