Rutherford led the Volts during the disappointing twenty20 competition. The team finished last with just three wins from 10 games.
However, Otago coach Rob Walter felt "the lack of success" could not "be put down to captaincy".
Rutherford had a good strategic grasp of what was required and had ‘‘maintained his personal performance’’ during a difficult period for the team, Walter said.
He was Otago’s leading scorer in the campaign with 306 runs at an impressive strike rate 156.12. He scored a century in the epic encounter against Central Districts at Pukekura Park.
"Hamish is a great tactical thinker and well respected amongst the team.
"He produced some outstanding individual performances throughout the T20 format and is looking forward to continuing his captaincy into the one-day competition.
"He is still a young captain and growing all the time. But he is showing good signs. And the players wanted him back. They think he is still the right man for the job."
Otago opens its one-day campaign against Wellington at the University Oval on Sunday.
The team will be named today but Walter has a few vacancies to fill. Neil Broom (finger) and Warren Barnes (shoulder) will miss the opening stages of the tournament, while offspinner Mark Craig is sidelined indefinitely with a prolapsed disc.
Top-order batsman Ryan Duffy is also carrying an injury and it is unclear whether he will be fit in time for Sunday’s match.
Black Caps left-armer Neil Wagner is on national duty but all-rounder Jimmy Neesham missed selection in the test squad and has been welcomed back warmly by an Otago team down on luck.
The replacement players will come from the Otago A team with bowlers Michael Rae and Jack Hunter likely to get an opportunity. Batsmen Gregor Croudis and Sean Eathorne performed strongly at the National Provincial A tournament.
