Shubman Gill
With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa now less than a year away, India are running out of opportunities to answer some critical questions about their bowling resources. The blow was compounded by Prasidh Krishna’s hamstring injury, ruling out a bowler widely viewed as a near-certain World Cup pick, especially given the fact that he is a tall, hit-the-deck bowler, the kind that does well on pitches in South Africa. That is why the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, beginning in Auckland on Wednesday, carries significance far beyond a routine bilateral contest.
The batting unit, though, gives greater comfort and offers greater certainty. Questions around Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future have gradually given way to discussions on how best to maximise their experience. Shubman Gill, meanwhile, has an opportunity to strengthen his credentials as ODI captain, leading in the first three matches before Shreyas Iyer takes charge for the final two as Gill prepares for Tests. For India, this tour is less about immediate results and more about gaining much-needed clarity. The World Cup blueprint is taking shape. The bowlers now have five matches to prove they belong in it. India have three ODIs against Sri Lanka in Dec and another three against Zimbabwe in Jan. But those games are in Indian conditions which are vastly different from South Africa. If the team has to identify weaknesses and address them, it has to be here, in New Zealand.