Mohammed Siraj rested for India's opening ODI against New Zealand

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was not included in the playing XI for the first ODI against New Zealand in Auckland on November 4. The decision follows his recent participation in a four-day unofficial Test match for India A against New Zealand A in Christchurch, which concluded on November 3.

Team management opted to rest Siraj to manage his workload due to the short turnaround between the red-ball match and the start of the five-match ODI series. No injury has been reported. Captain Shubman Gill confirmed the team strategy at the toss, noting that India would bowl first with a lineup featuring four fast bowlers: Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, and Arshdeep Singh, supported by all-rounders Naman Dhir and Axar Patel.

Siraj is expected to potentially return later in the series as part of India's long-term preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.