Overview:
Over the past year, India have taken a measured approach with Pandya, who now operates solely in limited-overs cricket.
India are expected to manage player workloads carefully as a busy international schedule unfolds, with Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya likely to be given a break from the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, the focus remains on keeping two key white-ball performers in peak condition.
Bumrah and Pandya are both tipped to rejoin the setup for the five-match T20I series that follows the ODIs. The move underlines India’s format-specific planning, with T20 cricket firmly in focus as preparations intensify for their World Cup title defence. The ODI squad for the New Zealand tour is expected to be named in early January.
Rishabh Pant is also set to miss the ODI series, opening the door for Ishan Kishan or Jitesh Sharma to take on wicketkeeping responsibilities. The ODIs are scheduled in Baroda, Rajkot and Indore, after which the T20I leg will unfold between January 21 and 31 across Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram.
Over the past year, India have taken a measured approach with Pandya, who now operates solely in limited-overs cricket. The all-rounder’s most recent ODI outing came in the Champions Trophy final in March, as fitness remains a concern. Bumrah has similarly been kept away from the format since the 2023 World Cup final, as the management prioritises workload balance.
Even while being rested from international fixtures, Pandya is set to represent Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, aligning with the BCCI’s policy that centrally contracted players remain active in domestic cricket. He is expected to take the field in two of Baroda’s last three league games, scheduled in Rajkot on January 3, 6 and 8.
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