New Delhi, September 20, 2026: India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand has raised concerns over the limited preparation time available between the ODI and Test series. According to reports, captain Shubman Gill and several other key multi-format players, including Jasprit Bumrah, could be rested for the final two ODIs to allow them additional time to prepare for the subsequent Test matches.
Tight Turnaround Creates Selection Challenge
India’s New Zealand tour is scheduled to feature five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. The T20I leg begins on October 22, followed by the five-match ODI series from November 4 to November 15.
The major concern is the short gap before the Test series. The fifth and final ODI is scheduled for November 15, while the first Test begins in Wellington on November 19. That leaves only four days between the two formats, with no conventional warm-up match scheduled in between.
For players expected to feature in both white-ball and red-ball cricket, the transition could therefore be demanding. The Test format requires a different preparation routine, particularly for batters and fast bowlers who need time to adjust to longer spells, extended innings and changing match conditions.
Gill Could Make Way for Shreyas Iyer
Shubman Gill is among the players reportedly being considered for an early exit from the ODI squad. If he is rested for the fourth and fifth ODIs, Shreyas Iyer could take over the captaincy for those matches.
The reported plan would allow Gill to reach Wellington earlier and begin preparing specifically for the Test series. Other players who could face a similar workload-management decision include KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
However, the reports currently describe these as possible plans rather than a final selection decision. There has been no official confirmation that Gill or Bumrah will definitely miss the last two ODIs.
Support Staff May Also Be Divided
To address the preparation issue, India’s team management is reportedly considering splitting the coaching and support staff into two groups.
One group could remain with the ODI team for the final matches, while another could travel to Wellington ahead of the Test squad. This would allow Test-bound players to begin their red-ball preparation without waiting for the ODI series to conclude.
The situation also highlights wider concerns about cricket scheduling. Earlier this month, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia acknowledged that the Indian team has been playing a heavy volume of cricket and said the board was looking at ways to provide players with better rest and preparation time, particularly during overseas assignments.
New Zealand Tour Puts Workload Management in Focus
The India-New Zealand series will test the team's ability to balance ODI commitments with Test preparation. The five-match ODI series is also relevant to India's longer-term planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup, while the Test matches carry significance in the World Test Championship cycle.
With the schedule leaving just four days between the final ODI and first Test, India may have to manage its squad carefully. Whether Gill, Bumrah and other multi-format players actually miss the final two ODIs will depend on the final decision of the selectors and team management.
