India’s captain, Shubman Gill, has expressed a preference for the ongoing tour of New Zealand to have started with the One Day Internationals (ODIs). He believes this would have allowed a stronger squad to prepare for the World Cup, given the short gap between series.
Ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June 2027 and the ODI World Cup in October-November 2027, India are focusing on squad management. Currently, they are unable to field their best team for the ODIs due to players being rested for the Test matches. India’s premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, is sitting out the ODIs, and several Test players, including Gill, are unavailable for the concluding ODIs.
On the eve of the first ODI in Auckland, Gill stated, “Both [the ODI and Test series] are very important. If it was in my hands and all the players were fit, I would have liked to have all the players who we are looking at playing during the World Cup [for the full ODI series], but the two Test matches are also very important.”
Had the tour started with the ODIs followed by T20Is and Tests, India might have played their top XI in all ODIs. Scheduling has forced a compromise, with Test-focused players missing the last two ODIs.
South Africa recently clinched a 2-1 victory against Australia in their home Test series, enhancing India’s chances of reaching the WTC final. India, who are currently fourth on the WTC table, look forward to challenging Australia at home in early 2027. “The WTC scenario has become very interesting,” Gill commented, underlining the significance of performing well in New Zealand and at home against Australia.
A pressing issue for India is the fitness of Hardik Pandya, the seam-bowling allrounder essential for the 2027 World Cup. Pandya has been sidelined since IPL 2026 with various injuries. Addressing this, Gill said, “Firstly, I think he is a great player. The qualities that he brings to the team, not many players in the world possess those qualities… It’s been very unfortunate that he hasn’t been able to play since the IPL… hopefully, we will see him back in the side soon.”
India’s strategy for the World Cup in South Africa involves tall fast bowlers, effective on bouncy pitches. Recent additions to the squad have included Prasidh Krishna, who is currently injured, along with other promising bowlers. Gill highlighted their role in the middle overs of ODIs, stating, “When the ball gets old, when there is not much seam or swing movement, then how do you challenge the batter? … [A bowler] with pace and bounce…”
Gill emphasised, “You have to be really precise with your shot-making. You have to be really on top of your game to be able to score against someone who is 140 [kph]-plus, who is 6’1″, 6’2″, 6’3″. And there is a lot more risk when you are trying to score freely [against] that kind of bowler.”
