India To Rest Gill, Rahul, Bumrah For Final New Zealand ODIs, Iyer Set To Lead

India are set to make significant changes to their ODI side during the New Zealand tour, with several key players expected to sit out the final two matches to prepare for the upcoming Test series.

Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy are likely to be rested for the fourth and fifth ODIs, with the Test series scheduled to begin on November 19. The two matches are expected to be played at Mount Maunganui.

With the Test squad turning its attention towards the longer format, Shreyas Iyer is tipped to captain India in the final two ODIs. The move would also give the team an opportunity to assess its depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The decision comes against the backdrop of an unusually tight schedule. India are due to begin the tour with a five-match T20I series from October 22, followed by the ODI series from November 4 and then the Tests from November 19. The demanding sequence has raised questions over workload management and whether India's international calendar needs better planning.

For the senior players, however, the Test series carries particular significance. India will be seeking their first Test series win in New Zealand since 2009, making preparation for the five-day format a priority. Gill and Rahul are central to India's batting plans, while Bumrah and Siraj remain important components of the pace attack.

The Test campaign will also have wider implications for India's World Test Championship ambitions. At the same time, the ODI series is part of the team's longer-term preparations for the 2027 World Cup.

Resting the leading players for the final ODIs could therefore serve two purposes: protecting them from excessive workload and allowing India's wider ODI group to gain valuable international experience before the next major tournament.