JUST IN: Shubman Gill & few BIG players likely to miss last two NZ vs IND ODIs; Know why
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Shreyas Iyer is expected to captain India in absence of Shubman Gill.
India are set for a long all-format tour of New Zealand, with the Men in Blue scheduled to play T20Is, ODIs and Tests against the hosts. The T20I series will be played first, followed by a five-match ODI series. The tour will then move into the red-ball format, with India scheduled to play two Tests against New Zealand.
The ODI leg will be an important part of India’s plans as the team continues to build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. At the same time, the Test series will bring another challenge, especially with the Indian players having to quickly switch from white-ball cricket to the longer format.
The schedule, however, leaves very little time between the two formats. The final ODI is set to be played on November 15, while the first Test will begin in Wellington on November 19. There is also no warm-up match scheduled before the Test series.
With several players expected to feature in both the ODI and Test squads, India would have to make some changes towards the end of the 50-over series.
Shubman Gill could miss final two ODIs against New Zealand
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Shubman Gill is expected to lead India in both the ODI and Test series, while Shreyas Iyer is set to captain the T20I side. However, Gill could be rested for the final two ODIs of the New Zealand tour, with Iyer likely to take over as captain.
According to reports by Dainik Jagran, Shreyas Iyer is likely to replace Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain for the fourth and fifth matches of the series. The development is linked to the short gap between the ODI and Test series.
Shubman Gill is not the only player who could leave the ODI squad early. Reports also suggest that several players who are part of both the ODI and Test squads could also skip the final two 50-over matches to start their Test preparations.
The list includes KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj. These players are expected to be part of India’s plans in both formats, which could make the short gap between the two series a challenge.
India will play the fourth and fifth ODIs on November 13 and 15, while the first Test is scheduled to begin in Wellington on November 19. This leaves only a few days for the players to switch from white-ball cricket to Test cricket.
There are also no warm-up matches scheduled before the Test series. As a result, the players could have limited time to get used to the red-ball format and New Zealand conditions.
Who is likely to captain India if Shubman Gill misses the ODIs?
Shreyas Iyer is expected to take over as India’s ODI captain in Gill’s absence.
When does the India vs New Zealand Test series begin?
The Test series is scheduled to begin three days after the final ODI, with the first Test set to be played in Wellington.
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