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One calm finisher. One tense chase. India start 2026 with a statement win.

India began their 2026 ODI series against New Zealand with a thrilling 4-wicket win in Vadodara on January 11, thanks to KL Rahul’s ice-cool finish under pressure. Chasing 301, India crossed the line in the final over, leaving fans on the edge of their seats at Kotambi Stadium.

New Zealand Set a Strong Target

Batting first, New Zealand posted 300/8 in 50 overs, built around a solid top-order performance.
Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with a classy 84, while Henry Nicholls (62) and Devon Conway (56) stitched together a crucial 117-run opening stand.

India pulled things back smartly in the middle and death overs.
Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets each, preventing New Zealand from accelerating beyond 320 despite a promising platform.

KL Rahul

India’s Chase: Smooth Start, Sudden Chaos

India started confidently in reply.
Shubman Gill looked fluent for his 56, while Virat Kohli played a masterclass, scoring 93 off 91 balls, controlling the chase with precision.

However, the match turned sharply after Gill’s dismissal at 157/2.
New Zealand struck back with quick wickets as Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shreyas Iyer fell in quick succession, creating real pressure in the final overs.

KL Rahul Delivers When It Matters Most

With the game hanging in the balance, KL Rahul showed why he is one of India’s most reliable finishers.
Facing debutant Kristian Clarke in the final over, Rahul sealed the match in style — 4, 4, and a towering 6 — finishing unbeaten on 29 off 21 balls as India reached 306/6 in 49 overs.

Team News & What’s Next

India missed Rishabh Pant, who was ruled out due to a nets injury, with Dhruv Jurel stepping in.
New Zealand, led by Michael Bracewell, fielded a less-than-full-strength squad but showed resilience throughout.

With this win, India take a 1–0 lead in the series.
The second ODI will be played on January 14, where New Zealand will look to bounce back against a confident Indian side aiming for early dominance.

India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 is officially out — and it’s already setting the internet on fire.
Announced by the BCCI on December 19, 2025, the team selection signals a fearless shift as India prepares to host the tournament alongside Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.

The biggest headline? Suryakumar Yadav continues as captain, with Axar Patel promoted to vice-captain, while star batter Shubman Gill has been completely left out of the 15-member squad — a move no one saw coming.

🔥 India’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad (Full List)

The selected players are:
Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, and Rinku Singh.

This squad blends explosive batting, smart spin, and raw pace — perfectly suited for Indian conditions.
With Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Rana leading the pace attack and Kuldeep–Varun controlling the middle overs, India looks tactically sharp. All-rounders like Hardik, Axar, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar add serious flexibility.

😲 Biggest Surprises That Shocked Fans

Shubman Gill dropped completely, ending his vice-captaincy run
Jitesh Sharma ignored, as selectors back Sanju Samson and a returning Ishan Kishan
No standby players named, showing full trust in the core squad

Kishan’s comeback comes after strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, proving domestic form still matters.

🧠 Why Selectors Made These Tough Calls

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar focused on current form and T20 adaptability. The squad keeps the core of India’s 2024 championship-winning team, while moving on from retired legends like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.

Despite workload concerns, Bumrah’s fitness was trusted early — highlighting his importance in India’s title defense.

🏆 What This Means for India’s Title Defence

As defending champions, India is chasing history — aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups.
With the squad closely mirroring the New Zealand T20I series team, early team bonding and clarity could be a massive advantage.

All eyes are now on Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, especially on spin-friendly home pitches where tactics will decide everything.