India pacer Mohammed Siraj and batter Tilak Varma have been drafted into Hyderabad’s squad ahead of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. As per a SportStar report, both players are expected to feature in Hyderabad’s next Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Chandigarh, scheduled to be played in Rajkot on Saturday, January 3.
Tilak Varma is set to resume captaincy duties, replacing CV Milind for the next two fixtures against Chandigarh and Bengal. Siraj, on the other hand, will be available for three matches, including Hyderabad’s final group-stage encounter against Jammu and Kashmir. The fast bowler had earlier turned out for Hyderabad in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he claimed seven wickets from four outings.
Varma, meanwhile, has featured in just one domestic match this season, a Ranji Trophy game against Delhi, owing to his commitments with the national side. The inclusion of the two internationals comes as a major boost for Hyderabad, who are yet to register a win in their first four Group B matches. Even victories in their remaining three games may not be enough to secure a quarterfinal berth.
Earlier in December 2025, a PTI report quoted by Hindustan Times stated that the BCCI has made it compulsory for centrally contracted players to take part in at least two rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Prominent names such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have already represented Delhi and Mumbai, respectively, in the ongoing season.
Spotlight On Mohammed Siraj As India Prepare To Announce ODI Squad For New Zealand
Mohammed Siraj will be under close watch as the BCCI prepares to unveil India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand, starting in Baroda on January 11. The pacer was overlooked for the recently concluded white-ball assignments against South Africa and also missed out on selection in India’s 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Siraj last featured in the 50-over format during India’s three-match ODI tour of Australia, where he picked up two wickets as India suffered a 1–2 series defeat. In ODIs overall, he has claimed 73 wickets from 47 appearances at an economy rate of 5.17.
With Jasprit Bumrah part of the T20 World Cup setup, he could be rested ahead of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, potentially opening the door for Siraj’s return in the ODI side. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna may retain his place in the squad after impressing with figures of 4/66 in his most recent ODI outing against South Africa.
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