As Team India gears up for their ODI series against a revamped New Zealand squad, all eyes will be on the in-form duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The opening match of the three-match series will take place here on Sunday, and the star players are expected to play a pivotal role in steering India towards victory.
Despite the T20 World Cup looming just weeks away, Kohli and Rohit are set to steal the spotlight in these ODIs over the next seven days. Both batsmen have been in excellent touch, showcasing their skills in the Vijay Hazare Trophy’s league phase, where they accumulated significant runs, proving they are still at the top of their game.
A key point of interest will be how India’s captain, Shubman Gill, performs after being left out of the T20 World Cup squad. Concerns linger over his form and the injuries that sidelined him during most of the series against South Africa last year. Gill’s return could mean that Yashasvi Jaiswal, who recently scored his first ODI century against South Africa, might be pushed down the batting order.
With Shreyas Iyer’s return, it’s anticipated that he will reclaim his No. 4 batting position, potentially putting an end to the ongoing experimentation with the batting lineup. KL Rahul is expected to continue in his role as a lower-order batsman and wicketkeeper, which may exclude Rishabh Pant from the playing XI, relegating him to the second choice in the 50-over format.
While Iyer, Pant, and Mohammed Siraj were not part of the team’s preparations until recently, Ravindra Jadeja’s full training session on Friday indicates he is fit and ready for the challenge.
On the other side, New Zealand is looking to turn the page after their defeat to India in last year’s Champions Trophy final. This series serves as a perfect platform for the Black Caps to experiment with new and emerging players. Regardless of their team composition, they will adhere to their successful strategy from their previous tour to India during the 2024-25 season when they achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory in the Test series.
Virat Kohli has been on a remarkable run, boasting six consecutive 50-plus scores in List A matches, amassing 584 runs in his last six innings, including three centuries and three half-centuries at an impressive average of 146.00.
Since last winning an ODI against India in 2022, New Zealand has struggled, with India winning seven consecutive matches since then, while two games saw no result due to rain.