India may rest fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and experienced all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand next month. With a busy schedule ahead in 2026, the Indian team management is prioritizing workload management for its players. The T20 World Cup is also scheduled for early next year, and the team management wants its two senior players in the limited-overs format to be fully fit.
Prioritizing the T20 format
Bumrah and Hardik are part of the squad for the five-match T20 series against New Zealand. The team management is currently prioritizing T20s as the T20 World Cup begins on February 7, where India will be defending its title. The Indian squad for the ODI series against New Zealand is expected to be announced in the first week of January.
Pant's selection is unlikely.
Rishabh Pant's selection for this series is also unlikely. If Pant is not selected, it could open the door for wicketkeepers Ishan Kishan or Jitesh Sharma. The first ODI between India and New Zealand will be played in Baroda on January 11, followed by the second match in Rajkot on January 14 and the third ODI in Indore on January 18. The T20 series matches will then be played between January 21 and 31 in Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Hardik may play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Pandya's careful management has been a constant topic of discussion over the past year. Hardik hasn't played an ODI since the Champions Trophy final in March due to fitness issues. Bumrah, meanwhile, hasn't played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup final, and the team management is keeping a close eye on his workload given his importance across all formats. Pandya is expected to play for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This will ensure compliance with the BCCI's directive making it mandatory for centrally contracted players to participate in domestic matches. He is likely to play in two of Baroda's last three league matches, which are scheduled to be held in Rajkot on January 3rd, 6th, and 8th.
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