In a year dominated by T20s and with a World Cup just weeks away, a series of three ODIs – albeit between the top two ranked teams in the formats – feel a bit like polishing a pencil for an exam that’s already gone digital.

For all practical purposes, this series between India and New Zealand – starting January 11 in Vadodara and running a week later until the 18th – is more crucial for a few central figures than in the larger scheme of where the 50-over format is heading. 

The shadow of the T20 World Cup looms large, and thus the New Zealand selectors have rested a roster of ODI regulars for this series – in fact, there are just six players included from the squad that reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy last March. 

India won’t play ODIs again until June, but for those who feature in just this format, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and the returning captain and vice-captain, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, these three games are critical. 

The neck spasm that Gill sustained at Eden Gardens in November ruled him out of the second Test against South Africa, as well as the subsequent ODIs. His return to competitive cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was then delayed due to a bout of food poisoning, and his one match in the tournament produced another low score (11) in a wider run of poor form in white-ball cricket. 

Iyer missed a lot of cricket after suffering a spleen injury during the tour of Australia in October, but the signs have been good since his domestic return: scores of 82 off 53 balls and 45 from 34 for Mumbai in the VHT. 

Iyer’s run in ODIs before his unfortunate injury had been stellar. In 2025, he had amassed 496 runs from 11 innings which included being India’s leading run-getter at the Champions Trophy, and his last innings before the spleen injury was 61 off 77 balls in Australia. He should walk right back in and take up the No 4 spot, which means that Rishabh Pant is looking at more time on the bench. 

Neither Gill nor Iyer will be at the T20 World Cup, and thus making a statement in ODIs is imperative. Gill played himself out of the T20I squad on account of terrible form – having been recalled as vice-captain before the Asia Cup – and a poor outing in his first run as captain in Australia has diminished his aura further. 

For Rohit and Kohli, of course there is the IPL for two months post the T20 World Cup, but donning the blue India jersey and returning to the format they’ve truly bossed must be special. 

For the returning Mohammed Siraj, who is mainly a Test player, making a statement could also lead to further chances in ODIs. 

New Zealand, meanwhile, also have players who will hope to use these three matches as preparation for a return at the World Cup, chief among them being Glenn Phillips. The allrounder missed a fair chunk of international cricket due to a groin injury, but his incredible switch-hitting has set the domestic T20 competition on fire and his return for the Black Caps comes with plenty of expectation. 

New Zealand are coming off a very successful year in which they won 17 of 20 ODI matches. This included winning all four bilateral series they played, taking a tri-series in Pakistan, and being runners-up at the Champions Trophy, where they pushed Rohit’s team in both encounters they had in Dubai. Hence their No 2 ranking in ODIs. 

Missing Mitchell Santner, the Black Caps are led by Michael Bracewel for this series. The bowling looks a bit thin in the absence of Santner, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and Lockie Ferguson, which is where this series could be decided. 

Duffy and Rachin Ravindra have been rested, Tom Latham is not around on account of the birth of his third child, and Mark Chapman is recovering from an ankle injury. 

This opens up potential ODI debut for pace bowlers Kristian Clarke and Michael Rae and the left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox. The likes of Adithya Ashok, Josh Clarkson and Nick Kelly are also primed for appearances during this series, playing key roles to the experienced Bracewell, Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, and Henry Nicholls. 

India likely 11: 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Nitish Reddy, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Harshit Rana, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11Arshdeep Singh

New Zealand likely 11: 1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Henry Nicholls, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Mitchell Hay (wk), 7 Michael Bracewell (capt), 8 Zak Foulkes, 9 Kyle Jamieson, 10 Adithya Ashok, 11 Michael Rae