Fri Jan 02 16:13:46 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

Headline: Pant Likely Dropped, Shami Potentially Back as India Names ODI Squad for New Zealand Series

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors are meeting soon to finalize the squad for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, with several key decisions on the table.

Sources indicate that wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is likely to be omitted from the squad. Meanwhile, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami is reportedly in contention for a return to the ODI side.

This series, which begins on January 11 in Vadodara, followed by matches in Rajkot (January 14) and Indore (January 18), is the last ODI assignment for the Indian team before their focus shifts entirely to the T20 format. With the T20 World Cup starting on February 7, the selectors are expected to prioritize player fitness for the T20 series following the ODIs. As a result, key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya may be rested during the ODI series to ensure they are fresh for the subsequent five-match T20I series against the Kiwis.

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