Hardik Pandya rested for ODIs against New Zealand to remain fit for T20 World Cup. Bumrah also workload-managed. Squad updates expected soon.

New Delhi: Before being rested for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand that begins on January 11, India’s seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is scheduled to play in two of Baroda’s final three Vijay Hazare Trophy league games in January.

Yes, it is definite that Hardik will play for Baroda against Vidarbha and Chandigarh in their Vijay Hazare matches on January 3 and 8. He needs enough time to manage his workload in the run-up to the T20 World Cup, hence he will not be present for the match against Jammu & Kashmir on January 6.

A source aware with the situation told IANS on Tuesday, “Hardik was hoping to participate in ODIs against New Zealand, but the team think tank advised him to rest from the series as they want him in fine fettle for the subsequent T20I series and the all-important T20 World Cup.”

The 2025 Champions Trophy final versus New Zealand in Dubai in March marked Pandya’s most recent appearance for India in an ODI. Pandya is anticipated to return for India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which starts in Nagpur on January 21 before the T20 World Cup starts on February 7. He will be joined by star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, whose workload also requires careful monitoring.

The team management views both Pandya and Bumrah as essential to India’s chances of winning the T20 World Cup again, but the latter has been excused from playing in Vijay Hazare Trophy matches.

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After recovering from a quadriceps injury he suffered in the Asia Cup Super Fours match against Sri Lanka in September, Pandya resumed full all-around duties during India’s 3-1 T20I series victory against South Africa in December. He was unable to play in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan and India’s subsequent 2-1 T20I series victory in Australia due to the injury.

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel will meet in the first week of January to announce India’s ODI team for the New Zealand series. After missing the 2-1 ODI series victory over South Africa because of a neck ailment, Shubman Gill may be able to captain the team again for the games in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore.

Shreyas Iyer has been exercising and improving his fitness at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, and the selectors are anticipated to receive an official update on his condition.

During the third ODI against Australia in Sydney, Iyer attempted to take a diving catch of Alex Carey and sustained a catastrophic spleen injury that has kept him out of action.

The second keeper spot is also expected to be up for debate by the selectors, particularly as Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan, who are headed to the T20 World Cup, are playing well and will provide fierce competition for incumbent Rishabh Pant.