After a 15-year hiatus, men’s international cricket returns to Vadodara this Sunday as India faces New Zealand at the newly inaugurated Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi. Despite being a matchup between the top two teams in the ICC rankings and a repeat of the Champions Trophy final, the series finds itself competing for attention with the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup.
For India’s leadership, the series is a critical opportunity for redemption. Captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer are both returning from injury layoffs and looking to reclaim their standing after being overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad. Gill, who missed the latter half of 2025 due to a neck injury, is looking to stabilize his captaincy after a difficult recent run.
Shreyas Iyer returns after recovering from an abdominal tear sustained in Australia, aiming to solidify his position as India’s premier number four. Both players participated in an extended net session on Saturday, signaling their readiness to lead a squad currently missing Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya due to workload management.
Much of the local hype, frequently described as "Ro-Ko" fever, centers on veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. As single-format specialists, the duo remains the primary attraction for the Vadodara crowd. Both are on the verge of significant statistical milestones: Kohli needs just 25 runs to become the fastest player to reach 28,000 international runs and 42 more to surpass Kumar Sangakkara as the second-highest run-scorer in cricket history.
Rohit Sharma is only two sixes away from breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the most ODI sixes as an opener, ensuring the spotlight remains firmly on the senior pair despite the format's shifting relevance.
The Indian camp suffered a setback on Saturday when wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the entire series. Pant sustained an internal oblique muscle tear after being struck on the ribs by a delivery during practice, leaving him in visible distress.
The selectors have named Dhruv Jurel as his replacement; Jurel arrives in Vadodara in peak form, having amassed 558 runs at an average of over 90 in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. While KL Rahul is expected to keep wicket, Jurel’s inclusion adds depth to a middle order that must navigate a disciplined New Zealand attack.
New Zealand enters the contest with a youthful squad led by Michael Bracewell, as several senior players including Kane Williamson and Tom Latham are absent due to franchise commitments or paternity leave. The Black Caps are set to hand an international debut to bowling all-rounder Kristian Clarke as they look to extend a nine-match winning streak.
While eight members of the visiting squad have never played in India, the team hopes to channel the aggressive mindset that led to their Test success in the country last year. With pleasant weather and the potential for dew later in the evening, the toss may prove decisive for teams deciding whether to chase under the Kotambi lights.
