Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be the main focus as India begin their three-match ODI series against New Zealand on Sunday. India will play at full strength as hosts, while New Zealand arrive with a refreshed squad.

Although the T20 World Cup is less than a month away, attention will stay firmly on the ODI format for the coming week. Kohli and Rohit continue to show why they remain vital in 50-over cricket. Both batters recently featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. More importantly, they scored heavily and showed strong form.

Their recent performances suggest that their hunger and consistency remain unchanged.

Shubman Gill’s Return Under Scrutiny

Meanwhile, India captain Shubman Gill will be closely watched. His return to the ODI side comes after he was left out of India’s T20 World Cup squad. Poor form and injuries during the South Africa tour late last year played a role in that decision.

Gill’s inclusion could impact Yashasvi Jaiswal. The left-hander may miss out on a top-order spot, even though he scored his maiden ODI century in the final match against South Africa.

Shreyas Iyer Strengthens Middle Order

In addition, Shreyas Iyer’s comeback is set to add balance to India’s middle order. India experimented heavily in recent months. Now, the 31-year-old is expected to return directly to his regular No. 4 position.

KL Rahul will continue as a lower-order batter and wicketkeeper. As a result, Rishabh Pant remains the second-choice wicketkeeper in ODIs.

Team Fitness and Bowling Plans

While Iyer, Pant, and Mohammed Siraj missed training sessions until Saturday, Ravindra Jadeja trained fully on Friday. This indicated he is match-ready.

India have rested Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya to manage workloads before the T20 season. Therefore, the pace attack will rely on Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna.

On the spin front, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Jadeja will play key roles. On flat pitches with heavy dew, control and discipline will matter more than aggression.

New Venue Marks a Milestone

The opening match will also be special for the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi. It will host its first men’s international match. Earlier, the venue staged a women’s ODI series between India and West Indies.

New Zealand Test Bench Strength

For New Zealand, the series offers a chance to test new players. Their loss to India in last year’s Champions Trophy final holds little relevance now.

Despite missing several key players, the Black Caps will draw confidence from their remarkable 3-0 Test series win in India during the 2024–25 season.

Injury Concerns and Leadership Shift

Mitchell Santner is unavailable due to a groin injury. Tom Latham has returned home for the birth of his first child. Kane Williamson is playing in the SA20.

Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy have been rested. Matt Henry is easing back gradually with an eye on the T20Is.

Michael Bracewell will captain the side. Attention will also be on Kyle Jamieson and young leg-spinner Adithya Ashok. At the same time, New Zealand’s batting remains strong with Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, and Glenn Phillips providing depth.

Squads

India: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana.

New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Devon Conway (wk), Mitchell Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox, Michael Rae.