Hours after smashing a spectacular maiden List-A century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Hardik Pandya has been omitted from India’s 15-man squad for the ODI series against New Zealand. While fans expected his immediate return, the BCCI has clarified that the decision is purely a medical and precautionary measure ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The "10-Over" Restriction

The BCCI's selection committee, in consultation with the Centre of Excellence (CoE), revealed that Pandya has not yet been cleared to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in the 50-over format.

• Official Statement: "Hardik Pandya has not been permitted by the BCCI CoE to bowl 10 overs in a match. His workload is being managed as a priority in light of the upcoming T20 World Cup in February."

• The Strategy: The selectors are unwilling to risk a relapse of his past injuries by pushing him into the high-intensity workload of ODIs just weeks before a global tournament.

Bittersweet Saturday: A Century in Vain

Pandya’s exclusion comes on a day when he reminded the world of his destructive power. Playing for Baroda against Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy:

• The Performance: He rescued Baroda from a precarious 71/5, smashing 133 runs off just 92 balls.

• Power Hitting: His knock included 11 sixes and 8 fours, including a sensational 34-run over where he hit five consecutive sixes.

• The Bowling Clue: Significantly, Pandya bowled only two overs in the match before being taken off, providing a clear hint that his bowling fitness is still under strict monitoring.

India’s Squad for New Zealand ODIs

In Pandya's absence, the squad sees the return of several key players. Shubman Gill will lead the side, with Shreyas Iyer named vice-captain (subject to his own fitness clearance).

The Full Team:

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Analysis: A Shift Toward Youth?

With Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah (also rested) out of the ODI setup for now, the door has opened for youngsters like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana to prove their mettle as versatile bowling options.