The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad on Friday for the ODI series against New Zealand. The captain Shubman Gill and his deputy Shreyas Iyer made a comeback to the side after recovering from injuries. The two replaced Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, respectively. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah were rested for the three-game series.
The first one-dayer will be held at Vadodara on Sunday, January 11. The action will then move to Rajkot and Indore for the second and third One-Day Internationals on January 14 and 18.
In this piece, we look at four top Indian players who were overlooked despite excelling in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on selection day. Take a peek.
1. Sanju Samson
Playing his first List-A match in 23 months, Sanju Samson made a statement as the wicketkeeper-batsman smashed 101 from 95 balls to lead Kerala to their fourth win of the campaign. His knock was laced with three sixes and nine fours. The Kerala side won the game by eight wickets.
This was Samson’s fourth List-A century, and he hasn’t played an ODI for Team India since his 108 against South Africa in Paarl in 2023. The 31-year-old has scored 510 runs from 16 ODIs at an average of 56.66, including one century and three half-centuries. Rishabh Pant has continued as the backup wicketkeeper to KL Rahul for the Men in Blue.
2. Tilak Varma
On Saturday, January 3, Hyderabad captain Tilak Varma struck his sixth List-A hundred against Chandigarh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The southpaw hammered a 109-run knock off 118 balls, including three sixes and six boundaries. His performance helped Hyderabad secure their first win of the domestic competition with a 136-run victory.
Recently, Varma was called up for the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa. The left-hander was picked in the playing XI for the third ODI, but India didn’t need him with the bat. Hence, his exclusion from the 50-over squad seemed rather unfair.
3. Axar Patel
Gujarat all-rounder Axar Patel registered his maiden List-A century against Andhra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy during the fifth round of the tournament. The left-hander blazed 130 from 111 balls, which included five sixes and 10 boundaries. The left-arm spinner was equally effective with the ball, picking up 2/27 in six overs. His all-round effort guided Gujarat to a seven-run win over Andhra.
Axar last played for India in the ODI format during the series against Australia Down Under, taking three wickets in as many matches. The left-handed batter scored 31 and 44 in two innings. However, Ravindra Jadeja replaced him for the next ODI series against South Africa and retained his place in the 15-man squad against New Zealand.
4. Mohammad Shami
Mohammad Shami once again impressed with the ball, taking 3/55 for Bengal to beat Assam by 85 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The speedster has taken 11 wickets at an economy rate of 5.65 in five matches of the 50-over tournament. He was also outstanding in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scalping 16 wickets from seven games with an economy rate of 8.93.
Additionally, Shami has taken 20 wickets in four outings during the current 2025-26 season of the Ranji Trophy. Despite his form, the selectors have overlooked him, with the Men in Blue preferring Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana in the ODI series against New Zealand. Shami last played an ODI against the Kiwis in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where India lifted the ICC title.
