Bumrah Hardik rested for NZ ODIs with India set to manage workloads ahead of the T20 World Cup, while both stars are expected to return for the five-match T20I series.
Bumrah Hardik rested for NZ ODIs ahead of T20 World Cup
India are likely to rest Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya for the upcoming New Zealand ODIs, keeping a close eye on workload management ahead of more important assignments, particularly the T20 World Cup.
Both senior players are, however, expected to return for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand that follows immediately after the three-match ODI leg.
New Zealand tour schedule: ODIs first, T20Is to follow
The tour begins with three ODIs, scheduled as follows:
- January 11 – Baroda
- January 14 – Rajkot
- January 18 – Indore
The ODI squad is expected to be announced around January 4–5.
The ODIs will be followed by five T20Is:
- January 21 – Nagpur
- January 23 – Raipur
- January 25 – Guwahati
- January 28 – Visakhapatnam
- January 31 – Thiruvananthapuram
With the T20 World Cup looming large, the Indian team management has decided that Bumrah Hardik rested for NZ ODIs is the best course of action to keep both players fresh for the T20 format.
Why India are managing Bumrah and Hardik carefully
Hardik Pandya, who now plays only white-ball cricket, has not featured in an ODI since the Champions Trophy final in March, primarily due to fitness concerns.
Jasprit Bumrah, meanwhile, has not played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup final, with the management closely monitoring his workload given his importance to India’s bowling attack.
Sources indicate that both players are being preserved specifically with India’s T20 World Cup defence in mind.
Hardik Pandya set for Vijay Hazare Trophy games
Despite being rested for the ODIs, Pandya is expected to turn out for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, in line with the BCCI’s directive mandating domestic participation.
Like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Pandya is likely to play two of Baroda’s final three league matches, scheduled for January 3, 6 and 8 in Rajkot, to maintain match fitness ahead of international duties.
Kohli, Rohit and Mumbai players’ updates
A senior DDCA official confirmed that Virat Kohli, who played Delhi’s first two VHT matches on December 24 and 26, will return for the penultimate league game against Railways on January 6 at Alur before joining the ODI squad.
Rohit Sharma, after representing Mumbai in the first two VHT games, has completed his domestic commitments for the season. His next assignment will be the ODI series against New Zealand.
The Mumbai Cricket Association also confirmed:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal will rejoin the squad shortly and may play a couple of games
- Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube will link up with the Mumbai team soon
Shreyas Iyer fitness watch ahead of selection
There is still uncertainty surrounding Shreyas Iyer, who has been sidelined since October with a spleen injury. Currently training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Iyer may feature in Mumbai’s January 3 game against Maharashtra to test his fitness.
While his inclusion in the ODI squad remains unclear, sources suggest Iyer is keen to leave nothing to chance ahead of selection.
Final word
With Bumrah Hardik rested for NZ ODIs, India have made it clear that long-term planning and peak fitness for the T20 World Cup take priority over short-term results. The return of both stars for the T20I series is expected to strengthen India’s preparations significantly.
With Bumrah Hardik rested for NZ ODIs, India have clearly prioritised long-term success over short-term results.
India’s workload management approach has also been evident during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26, where senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returned to domestic cricket ahead of the New Zealand series.
For the official series schedule and updates, fans can also refer to the BCCI official website and match coverage from ICC, which provide detailed information on India vs New Zealand fixtures.
BCCI offichttps://www.bcci.tv/international/womenial website
