IND vs NZ ODI: Two of India’s best players are probably going to miss the ODI series against New Zealand, which is a huge blow
IND vs NZ ODI: Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, India’s top pacers, will not play in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. In order to keep Bumrah and Hardik fit for the T20I series against the same side and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the BCCI will give them some respite for the ODI series against the Kiwis next month, according to a TOI report.
The five Twenty20 Internationals will take place in Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram, while the three-match ODI series against New Zealand will begin on January 11 in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore.
The 2026 T20 World Cup will start on February 7 of that year and take place in five locations in Sri Lanka and India.
The Indian T20 World Cup 2026 team will be announced during a meeting of the BCCI selection committee on Saturday in Mumbai.
The team management is quite clear on how to manage Bumrah’s workload, according to a BCCI source.
Regarding Bumrah, the management is rather explicit. It’s quite easy: just prioritize the formats and matches you want Bumrah to play in. Outsiders may come up with all kinds of fitness ideas. From a team standpoint, it was crucial that he play as many Twenty20 Internationals as possible in the lead-up to the World Cup, and he has been playing in the format since the Asia Cup. Bumrah’s performance was crucial not just for his continued success in the format but also for the coach and captain to determine the bowling combination that would work well with Bumrah. Selectors now have a better view thanks to these games, and the five T20Is against New Zealand will just be about finalizing preparations, a BCCI insider told TOI.
Therefore, there is no point in the three ODIs versus New Zealand. When the squad turns its attention to the 2027 World Cup, you will see more of Bumrah in ODIs. Coach Gautam Gambhir intends to deploy his best fast bowler in this manner,” he said.
According to sources, Pandya will also miss the ODI series against New Zealand after missing two months of competitive cricket due to an injury.
However, he could participate in one or two Baroda Vijay Hazare Trophy games.
For Hardik, the strategy will remain the same. The series against South Africa demonstrated that Bumrah and Hardik are now the most crucial players in the T20I lineup. “No final decision has been made in that regard, but there is a chance that Hardik will play some domestic games for Baroda to keep his body ready,” he said.