Goa, Jan. 3 -- India named a pace-heavy squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, with Shubman Gill continuing as captain and Shreyas Iyer returning as vice-captain. The selectors opted for five fast-bowling options while picking only three specialist spinners, underlining their preference for seam in the 50-over format.

Rishabh Pant has been retained in the squad as the backup wicketkeeper behind KL Rahul, despite recent questions over his white-ball form. Yashasvi Jaiswal continues as the reserve top-order batter, with the team management viewing him as a long-term option in the ODI setup.

India squad for New Zealand ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ra...