Indian team, barring four players, reach Baroda for New Zealand ODI

The Indian ODI team members, barring Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja, have reached Baroda ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand. The four players were part of their respective state teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT). All players were to report in Baroda on Wednesday, but the four had to delay their arrival due to VHT commitments.

The team was scheduled to have its first practice session in preparation for the three-match ODI series, with all players except Iyer, Pant, Siraj, and Jadeja taking part in the nets at Kotambi Stadium in Baroda. These four players will join the squad on Friday. The first ODI will be played on January 11.

Iyer led Mumbai, Pant captained Delhi, Siraj represented Hyderabad, and Jadeja was part of the Saurashtra team in the VHT. The league stage has concluded, with Pant's Delhi and Jadeja's Saurashtra advancing to the knockouts from Group D, while Iyer's Mumbai progressed after finishing second in Group C.

Siddesh Lad to lead Mumbai

The Mumbai Cricket Association has named Siddesh Lad as the skipper for the Mumbai team in the VHT knockouts. Lad is a veteran Mumbai player, having represented the domestic side in over 150 matches across formats. He will be the third skipper for Mumbai this tournament, with Shardul Thakur and Iyer being the other two, who missed VHT games for different reasons. Mumbai face Karnataka in the first quarterfinal on January 12.

The Delhi team will be led by Ayush Badoni in the absence of Pant. Badoni is the vice-captain of Delhi and has led the side whenever Pant was unavailable. Delhi will play Vidarbha on January 13. Jadeja's Saurashtra will take on Uttar Pradesh on January 12. Siraj's Hyderabad did not advance in the tournament. All VHT knockouts will be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.