India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya will participate in two of Baroda’s final three Vijay Hazare Trophy league games in January before taking a break for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, commencing on January 11. Pandya is confirmed to play for Baroda on January 3 and 8 against Vidarbha and Chandigarh but will skip the match against Jammu & Kashmir on January 6 to manage his workload ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Although Pandya expressed his desire to play in the ODIs against New Zealand, the team management advised him to rest for the series to ensure his readiness for the subsequent T20I series and the crucial T20 World Cup. He last appeared in an ODI for India during the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai.
Pandya, along with fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, is anticipated to return for India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand starting on January 21, gearing up for the T20 World Cup scheduled to commence on February 7. Both players are vital to India’s T20 World Cup title defense plans, with Bumrah being excused from the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches.
Having recovered from a quadriceps injury sustained during the Asia Cup Super Fours match against Sri Lanka in September, Pandya resumed his all-round duties during India’s 3-1 T20I series triumph over South Africa in December. His injury had sidelined him from the Asia Cup final against Pakistan and India’s subsequent 2-1 T20I series victory in Australia.
The Indian ODI squad for the New Zealand series will be announced by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel in early January. Shubman Gill might lead the team in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore after missing the ODI series against South Africa due to a neck injury.
The selectors are expected to receive an official update on Shreyas Iyer’s status, who has been working on his fitness at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru following a spleen injury suffered while attempting a catch during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney. The selection panel will also contemplate the second wicketkeeper slot, with Ishan Kishan and Dhruv Jurel providing strong competition to Rishabh Pant, who is currently in the T20 World Cup squad.
