New Delhi: Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to sit out the three-match ODI series against New Zealand to stay fresh for the upcoming important commitments, particularly the T20 World Cup. They are, however, likely to be available for the five-match T20I series immediately after the ODIs.
The three ODIs is scheduled to start on January 11 (Baroda), 14 (Rajkot), and 18 (Indore), will be followed by five-match T20I series in Nagpur (January 21), Raipur (January 23). Bumrah and Pandya are unlikely to feature in the ODIs, allowing them to stay fresh for the more crucial T20 matches. The ODI squad is expected to be announced around January 4-5.
Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are set to miss New Zealand ODI series
The team management has reportedly decided to rest the two players for the ODIs as both of them are vital to India’s T20 World Cup campaign. Pandya, a white-ball specialist, has not played an ODI since the Champions Trophy final in March due to fitness concerns, while Bumrah, whose workload is being carefully managed because of his importance to the team, has not appeared in an ODI since the 2023 World Cup final.
Pandya is set to play for Baroda in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. His participation in the domestic 50-over tournament comes after the BCCI’s mandate requiring players to take part in domestic matches. Like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who featured for Mumbai and Delhi in the first two VHT games, Pandya might play for two of Baroda’s last three league matches which is scheduled on January 3, 6, and 8, all in Rajkot.
Virat Kohli likely to play another match for Delhi
A senior Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) official told Cricbuzz that Kohli, who featured in Delhi’s first two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches on December 24 and 26 in Bengaluru against Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, will return for the penultimate league game on January 6 against Railways at the KSCA ground in Alur. Following that, he will join the Indian squad for the three ODIs against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma also played for Mumbai in the first two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches in Jaipur, and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has confirmed that his domestic season is now complete. His next assignment will be the upcoming ODI series. The MCA also stated that Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been sidelined due to illness, will join the Mumbai squad in Jaipur within a day or two. He is expected to play a couple of matches before joining the ODI squad. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube are set to join the Mumbai squad shortly.
MCA remains uncertain about Shreyas Iyer’s availability
The MCA remains uncertain about Shreyas Iyer’s availability. He hasn’t been part of international cricket since late October due to a spleen injury. However, it is reported that he may feature for Mumbai on January 3 against Maharashtra, ahead of the ODI squad selection. Iyer, who underwent surgery for the injury and is currently training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), could play the Jaipur game to assess his fitness. At this point, it is unclear if he will be included in the ODIs, but sources close to him say he is taking no chances.
