India and New Zealand kick off a three-match ODI series on January 11, 2026. This contest is a fascinating clash of priorities. India’s got its eyes on T20 World Cup prep while New Zealand uses it as a testing ground for new talent. It’s a busy week for both teams.
India’s Juggling Act: ODIs Before T20 World Cup
India is bringing a strong squad. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in form. Their presence sets up a big ODI campaign, but the T20 World Cup is less than a month away. This series is India’s last ODI outing before that big tournament.
Shubman Gill returns as ODI captain, a bit of a surprise after he missed the T20 World Cup squad. Gill addressed that decision. He said, “I respected the selector’s decision, whichever decision he took, wishing the T20 team all the very best and I really, really hope that they win the [T20] World Cup for us.” Sounds like he’s moved on.
Workload management is key for India. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are resting, keeping them fresh for the T20 season. Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna handle pace duties. Spin is with Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja trained fine on Friday, so he’s good to go.
The batting lineup sees changes too. Gill back at the top means Yashasvi Jaiswal might miss out. Jaiswal just hit his first ODI century against South Africa. Shreyas Iyer also returns at No. 4, ending those experimental batting orders. KL Rahul keeps the lower-order wicketkeeper spot. Rishabh Pant is second choice in ODIs.
New Zealand’s Youth Movement Takes Center Stage
New Zealand rolls in with a very different squad. They’re missing a lot of key players. Mitchell Santner is out with a groin injury. Tom Latham went home for his child’s birth. Kane Williamson is busy with the SA20. Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy are rested.
Michael Bracewell steps up to lead the side in Santner’s absence. He’s expected back for the T20I series. Even with those absences, their batting still has Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, and Glenn Phillips.
This series is a chance for New Zealand to test out new talent. Everyone’s watching Kyle Jamieson, seeing him as an all-rounder. Leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, 23, is the next generation. Jayden Lennox is a like-for-like replacement for Santner.
New Zealand’s loss to India in last year’s Champions Trophy final doesn’t really matter here. This series is about development. But hey, they did win that 3-0 Test series in India back in 2024-25. That gives them some confidence.
Vadodara Opener and Training Buzz
The Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi hosts its first men’s international match. This is a big deal for the venue. It previously held a women’s ODI series. It’s a historic moment for Indian cricket infrastructure.
The BCCI put out a training video showing Kohli and Rohit batting together. That got everyone talking. It brought back memories of India’s top ODI pairing. The clip showed Kohli hitting off-drives and Rohit working on leg-side strokes. They looked good.
Both players trained for about 90 minutes. They faced pacers, spinners, and throw-down specialists. Kohli recently scored 77 and 131 in Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. He’s in good domestic touch. Some variable bounce in practice even gave them extra challenges. That’s good preparation.
Clash of Philosophies
This series highlights two different philosophies. India is trying to keep its ODI form sharp, but also managing its star players for the T20 World Cup. They want momentum with a settled team. On the other hand, New Zealand sees this as a chance to deepen their squad. They’re throwing new faces into the mix. They’re experimenting before their own T20 World Cup preparations.
So, India’s got big plans, with a World Cup on the horizon. And New Zealand’s just looking to see what their new guys can do. Should be an interesting series. It kicks off tomorrow.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee