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India will field a weaker team, without Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and others, in the last two ODIs vs New Zealand. Coaching staff will also split. Here’s why.
Jasprit Bumrah (L) and Shubman Gill are two of India’s most important ODI and Test players. (Photo by SAJJAD HUSSAIN / AFP)
Cramped scheduling is set to force India to play a severely weaker team in the last two of the five ODIs against New Zealand in the multi-format series this October-December.
India will play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests against New Zealand, in that order, starting on October 22. There are only four days between the fifth ODI and the first Test.
The likes of Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj will be part of both ODIs and Tests. According to a Jagran report, all of them are likely to be taken out of the ODI squad to practice for the Tests.
In Gill’s absence, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is likely to lead the team. Gill has been the flag-bearer for stronger preparations for Test cricket, but on this occasion, it’s likely to come at the cost of ODIs.
The coaching staff will also be split into two groups. Two of head coach Gautam Gambhir, bowling coach Morne Morkel, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak and fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh will stay back for the final two ODIs, while the other two will travel to Wellington early to begin preparations for the first Test.
It should raise questions about those who decided the schedule, affecting a series which would be pivotal for India’s 2027 ODI World Cup preparations. The report said that such a scenario could have been avoided if T20Is took place after the ODIs, for there’s minimal overlap between the T20I and Test squads.
The report also claims that the team management wasn’t consulted about the schedule.
India’s tour of New Zealand: Full schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 October 2026 | 1st T20I | Christchurch | 12:30 PM |
| 24 October 2026 | 2nd T20I | Christchurch | 12:30 PM |
| 27 October 2026 | 3rd T20I | Wellington | 12:30 PM |
| 30 October 2026 | 4th T20I | Auckland | 12:30 PM |
| 1 November 2026 | 5th T20I | Hamilton | 12:30 PM |
| 4 November 2026 | 1st ODI | Auckland | 7:30 AM |
| 7 November 2026 | 2nd ODI | Wellington | 7:30 AM |
| 10 November 2026 | 3rd ODI | Hamilton | 7:30 AM |
| 13 November 2026 | 4th ODI | Mount Maunganui | 7:30 AM |
| 15 November 2026 | 5th ODI | Mount Maunganui | 7:30 AM |
| 19-23 November 2026 | 1st Test | Wellington | 3:30 AM |
| 27 November-1 December 2026 | 2nd Test | Christchurch | 3:30 AM |
Quick Answers
A crammed schedule leaves only four days between the final ODI and the first Test, prompting management to pull key players out of the last two ODIs to practice for the Tests.
September 20, 2026, 15:04 IST
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