NEW DELHI: The indefatigable duo of Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj is expected to dominate discussions on Saturday when the selectors sit down to finalise a 15-member Indian ODI squad for the three-match series against New Zealand, beginning January 11 in Vadodara.

While no major overhaul is expected in the squad that recently beat South Africa, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee may still look to address two specific areas of concern.

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Rishabh Pant faces stiff competition

The first dilemma revolves around Pant’s role as the second wicketkeeper. Ishan Kishan has underlined his power-hitting ability in the middle order for Jharkhand, while Dhruv Chand Jurel grabbed headlines by smashing a ‘Daddy Hundred’ for Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit.

Both Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have consistently shown a preference for selecting players based on team balance rather than reputation.

In the ODI format, however, the requirement is different. The wicketkeeper is expected to bat in the middle order, typically at No.5 or No.6, and provide stability along with finishing ability.

To Pant’s credit, he has featured in just one ODI since Gambhir took over as head coach, between July 2024 and December 2025. His overall ODI record of 31 matches across eight years, with an average under 35, does not fully capture the potential of the resilient Roorkee-born batter.

Even his harshest critics would concede that Pant offers greater match impact than both Kishan and Jurel. That said, his shot selection during the recent Guwahati Test defeat against South Africa did little to impress the team management.

Dropping him without a consistent run in the side, however, could also invite uncomfortable questions.

Pace bowling puzzle

The second major talking point concerns the pace bowling combination for the series. With Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested keeping the T20 World Cup in mind, the selectors must decide whether to also give a breather to Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, both of whom featured in the South Africa series.

Siraj presents a particularly intriguing case. Left out of the Champions Trophy squad due to conditions, he played in the away series against Australia but was overlooked for the South Africa ODIs.

He has also missed the first four rounds of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, though he could turn out for Hyderabad in the latter stages.

Given that Siraj was a regular in India’s ODI setup until the 2023 World Cup, his absence from the 50-over plans has raised eyebrows.

As for Mohammed Shami, he has been active across formats for Bengal, but there is a section within cricketing circles that believes the veteran pacer may be past his peak at the international level.

Among standout performers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Sarfaraz Khan has emerged as a strong contender for the No.4 slot, while Devdutt Padikkal has impressed as an opener.

However, with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal virtually assured of their places, fitting Padikkal into the XI appears difficult.

Sarfaraz’s domestic exploits have been impressive, but Ruturaj Gaikwad seems to have moved ahead in the pecking order after his century against South Africa.

Ultimately, all these debates could amount to little if the selectors decide to stick with the status quo, leaving the squad largely unchanged for the New Zealand series.

(With PTI Inputs)