Hardik Pandya has been in incredible form for India across formats over the past few months and produced another remarkable effort with the bat in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy while playing for Baroda on Friday. However, despite being a magnificent performer in all departments, Pandya was not named in India's squad for the ODI series against New Zealand.

The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand will start on January 11. Shubman Gill has made his return and will be leading the side, with senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also named in the 15-member squad. In the absence of Hardik, India have included Nitish Kumar Reddy as a fast-bowling all-rounder, whereas Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja are the spin-bowling all-rounder options.

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Hardik, who hasn't played an ODI match for India for a while, smashed an outstanding century for Baroda and went on to play a memorable knock of 133 runs in just 92 balls on the back of eight fours and 11 sixes against Vidarbha. However, his team ended up losing the match by 9 wickets, with Hardik bowling just two overs.

 

Why Hardik Pandya Was Not Picked For New Zealand ODIs

The BCCI, in a statement, asserted that Hardik was not cleared by the COE to bowl 10 overs in a match and therefore he was included in the Indian team for the New Zealand series.

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The BCCI selection committee and the team management want Hardik and a few key players like Jasprit Bumrah to be fresh and fit for the T20 World Cup 2026. Notably, Hardik and Bumrah have been rested for the NZ series. "Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match, and considering the ICC Men's T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed," the BCCI said in its release.

Hardik's last ODI appearance for India was the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. He was recently seen in action during the five-match T20I series against South Africa, which India won by 3-1. He smashed a 16-ball fifty and played a fiery knock of 63 runs in just 25 balls on the back of five fours and as many sixes. The 32-year-old was adjudged as the Player of the Match. 

India's squad for NZ ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal