India's squad for New Zealand visit announced: Gill to lead the team, Shmi left out of the list

The left-arm spinner for the Indian team, Yuzvendra Chahal, revealed details of an early career incident that put his life in danger. During a party in Bangalore in 2013, while playing for Mumbai Indians (MI), a drunken Australian cricketer lifted him from the 15th-floor balcony and hung him upside down.

Chahal shared this story on a podcast by former Indian batsman Akash Chopra. He clarified that two cricketers whose names had previously been linked to the incident were not involved. Chahal noted that a very drunk Australian player was present at the party organized by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Bangalore.

According to Chahal, this athlete was physically very strong and suddenly lifted him, hanging him from the balcony. Chahal recounted: 'He just held me by the neck.' People in the room panicked, and everyone immediately intervened to get him back up.

He added that despite the player laughing, it felt like a second chance at life for him. Chahal speculated that the incident took place on the 15th or 16th floor of the hotel. He admitted that in his youth, he did not understand how to officially file a complaint about such an event, and later decided to focus on his career.

Chahal first mentioned this case in 2022. Although Andrew Symonds' name was mentioned in some previous reports, Chahal now categorically denies the involvement of both Symonds and James Franklin. However, he declined to name the Australian cricketer.

Chahal began his IPL career in 2013 with Mumbai Indians and later became a leading bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, playing for the team for eight seasons. He is one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history, with 233 wickets in 188 matches. In the 2026 IPL season, he played 14 matches for Punjab Kings (PBKS), taking 12 wickets.

New Zealand has announced the squads for its five-match ODI series against India, which begins on November 4th. The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) organization presented the player lists, featuring athletes such as Finn Allen, Loki Ferguson, Rachin Ravindra, and Tim Seifert. However, it should be noted that these four players will not be available for the entire series.

NZC formed two separate squads for the five ODIs, meaning there will be changes in the team composition throughout the series. The reason for this decision is also preparation for the upcoming two-match Test series, which will start shortly after the conclusion of the ODI tournament. The New Zealand team management aims to prepare some players for the Test matches in advance by withdrawing them from the ODI squad.

A squad of 14 players was selected for the first three ODIs. In addition to captain Michael Santner, this squad included Michael Bresshaw, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Df, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, and Will Young.

Rachin Ravindra, who previously could not participate in the T20 International series against India due to a shoulder injury, will now return to the ODI squad and can play in the first three matches. He is expected to contribute in both batting and bowling. For the fourth and fifth ODIs, NZC chose a different team, which will feature Finn Allen and Tim Seifert, known for their aggressive style in T20. Allen and Loki Ferguson played for New Zealand in the last ODI of 2023, and Seifert last played in 50 overs in the home series against Pakistan about eighteen months ago.

The team selected for the last two matches also includes Santner, Bresshaw, Chapman, Jacob Df, Blair Tickner, and Will Young. Additionally, Christian Clark, Matt Fisher, Mitch Heap, and Nick Kelly were included, giving the team an opportunity to test the depth of its squad in the final two ODIs.

The series between India and New Zealand extends beyond just bilateral encounters, as both teams will also consider preparations for the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2027, which will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Consequently, defining player roles and forming a strong squad is extremely important for the team management.

New Zealand coach Rob Walter noted that playing at home against such a strong team as India presents a great opportunity. He emphasized that with the World Cup being about a year away, this series will be very significant for preparation. According to Walter, including seven additional players in the squad for the last two ODIs is aimed at assessing the depth of the team to understand how these players perform against a world-class team and how many options are available for the major tournament.

Three players recovering from injuries—Jacari Foulkes (iliopsoas muscle), Will O'Rourke (calf), and Ben Sears (ankle)—were not included in the selection list for the ODI series against India.