Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to be key players driving India’s success in the One Day International (ODI) format as they face a revamped New Zealand team in the first match of a three-match series in Vadodara on Sunday. Despite the looming T20 World Cup less than a month away, the spotlight will be on Kohli and Rohit throughout these ODIs over the next week. Both players have enjoyed ample game-time recently, performing well in the league round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy and proving they remain formidable forces on the field.
Meanwhile, India’s captain Shubman Gill’s performance will be scrutinized after he was dropped from the T20 World Cup squad due to concerns over his form and injuries that sidelined him for much of the previous series against South Africa. His return is set to push Yashasvi Jaiswal down from the top order, where Jaiswal recently marked his first ODI century. The inclusion of Shreyas Iyer is expected to stabilize a batting lineup that has seen numerous changes recently, reclaiming the No. 4 position after a series of unsuccessful experiments.
KL Rahul will continue as a lower-order batsman and wicketkeeper, which means Rishabh Pant is likely to remain on the bench as the second-choice player in the 50-over format. While Iyer, Pant, and Mohammed Siraj missed the series buildup until Saturday, Ravindra Jadeja’s full training session on Friday indicates his readiness to play. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are being rested to prepare for T20 assignments, placing the onus of pace bowling on Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna. Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Jadeja will handle spin duties in conditions expected to favor containment rather than aggressive wicket-taking due to evening dew and the flat nature of the pitches.
This series will also be a milestone for the new Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi, as it hosts its first men’s international match, having previously welcomed a women’s ODI series between India and the West Indies. For New Zealand, last year’s Champions Trophy final loss to India holds little weight as this series offers a chance to evaluate new and emerging talent amidst several absences of key players.
Regardless of their preferred lineup’s availability, the Black Caps plan to stick to their proven team mantra, which previously led to a 3-0 Test series victory against India during their last visit in 2024-25. Maintaining focus with reminders like “you are where your feet are” is vital as they face the challenges of playing in India without several frontline players.
Missing for the ODIs is Mitchell Santner due to a groin injury, while Tom Latham is absent to welcome his first child. Former captain Kane Williamson is in South Africa for T20 commitments, alongside Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy who have been rested. Matt Henry is working to return from a calf injury, aiming to be fit for the T20I series and the upcoming World Cup. Michael Bracewell will lead the squad in Santner’s absence, while attention also shifts to how all-rounder Kyle Jamieson and leg-spinner Adithya Ashok perform. Jayden Lennox steps in as a direct replacement for Santner. Despite the fresh faces, New Zealand retains a strong batting lineup featuring Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, and Glenn Phillips, ready to make an impact.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/01/11/men-in-blue-eye-winning-start-to-new-zealand-odis/
Category: SPORTS
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Publish Date: 2026-01-11 06:10:00
