Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are among the players who will leave the ODI squad after the first three matches to prepare for the two Tests, while Jasprit Bumrah, rested for the ODIs, returns for the longer format. Gill will captain India in the first three ODIs before Shreyas Iyer takes over for the final two. The Test series begins on November 19, just four days after the last ODI.

On paper, the decision to prioritise Tests makes sense. India have not won a Test series in New Zealand since 2009, and the recent results have not been encouraging either. They were swept 3-0 at home by New Zealand in 2024, lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 in 2024-25 and drew 2-2 in England in 2025. Their home defeat to South Africa in November 2025 added to the concerns. India also failed to qualify for the World Test Championship final for the first time in the 2023-25 cycle. They currently sit fifth in the 2025-27 standings, with a difficult route to the final. Improving their Test cricket, particularly overseas, is an obvious priority.

The preparations further underline the importance India are giving the format, something they have not always done adequately before overseas series. India A will play three multi-day matches against New Zealand A between October 24 and November 10, with several senior players expected to be involved. Gill is expected to play for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy before the tour. Players released from the ODI squad could also feature in the final India A match, which begins on November 7. Such preparation is welcome, especially given India's previous struggles to secure enough red-ball practice before overseas assignments.

Before the first Test in Australia in November 2024, India cancelled an intra-squad match against India A and opted for match simulations at the WACA. Ahead of the 2023 WTC final, held days after the IPL, concerns were also raised about the lack of red-ball preparation. There is little wrong, then, with a team correcting its mistakes. In the age of franchise cricket and packed white-ball calendars, a deliberate effort to prepare for overseas Tests is worth encouraging.

But the timing raises another question. With the 2027 ODI World Cup less than a year away, India cannot afford to leave their 50-over plans until the final months before the tournament.

India have 14 ODIs confirmed in the coming months, with the possibility of more if additional series are arranged. They could also play the 50-over Asia Cup, adding a maximum of six more matches. Yet the number of games alone does not tell the full story. Apart from the New Zealand tour, India's next two ODI series are scheduled at home, while the Asia Cup is expected to be held in the UAE. Neither setting will fully replicate South Africa's pace and bounce. A possible tour of South Africa before the World Cup has been reported, and India are likely to play another home series, potentially serving as a farewell for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Realistically, then, the number of competitive matches in SENA conditions is unlikely to exceed 15 (including the current New Zealand tour).

Over the past year, India have lost ODI series in Australia and England, as well as a home series against New Zealand. They even lost T20Is in Ireland and England, further highlighting their struggles against quality pace and movement. Flat Indian pitches, which have been offered in plenty and drawn criticism, can provide runs without adequately testing a batter's technique. With the IPL and even the recent white-ball series against the West Indies being played on flat tracks, India's struggles against stronger attacks make it important to assess their batters in conditions that challenge them before the World Cup arrives.

The pace attack is an even bigger concern. Bumrah will not feature in the ODIs against New Zealand, while Prasidh Krishna's availability for the first three matches depends on fitness clearance. For the final two games, India have picked Arshdeep Singh, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar and Yash Thakur. These matches offer opportunities to assess reserves, but the recent series have highlighted how unsettled the attack remains, and apart from Bumrah, there is uncertainty about the first-choice combinations.

Test regulars to skip the last two ODIs ❌ Record-breaking spinner Manav Suthar ignored 🤔 Sarfaraz Khan misses out again ⚠️ India announced their Test and ODI squads for the New Zealand tour yesterday 🇮🇳 https://t.co/lsJQ177aEs

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 17, 2026

India need to establish which bowlers complement one another, who can take wickets in the middle overs and who can handle the demands of the death overs. Individual records alone cannot answer these questions. Bowlers need to play together to understand each other's strengths, identify weaknesses and establish which combinations work. That understanding cannot be built overnight.

Gill's absence from the final two ODIs can also be questioned. This will be his first World Cup as captain, and he needs as much experience as possible in a format where match-ups, conditions and tactical decisions can change quickly.

India have not consistently fielded their strongest ODI side since the 2025 Champions Trophy. Winning that tournament showed what the core group can achieve, but the team has gone through a rebuilding phase since then. The selectors still need to establish the first-choice seamers, assess their alternatives and give the attack enough time to work together.

There is an argument that other teams also prioritise Test cricket. Australia's fast bowlers were managed in the South Africa ODIs, with the Tests in mind. But Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have played alongside one another for years. They know how to work together and what each brings to the attack. Australia are managing an established combination; India are still trying to find one.

India should not have to choose between taking Tests seriously and preparing properly for the World Cup, but the scheduling is a matter for another day. The renewed attention to red-ball cricket is welcome after a difficult period, and the team has good reason to prepare thoroughly for New Zealand. But with the World Cup approaching, the same urgency must extend to ODIs. The question is not whether India should prioritise Tests, but whether they are giving their ODI team enough time to become a settled unit before the tournament.

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