Both Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be rested from India’s first assignment of 2026, a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand. However, the duo will play the five T-20 Internationals that will start from 21st January.

New Zealand will play India in the three-match ODI series starting from 11th January 11 as the matches are scheduled in Baroda, Rajkot, and Indore.

According to a report from a national website, the key reason behind resting Bumrah and Pandya is to give them time for the preparation of the T-20 World Cup, to be held in 2026. The decision resembles BCCI’s decision of resting them from the ODI series against South Africa. But both of them took part in the T-20 Internationals against the team.

Both Pandya and Bumrah have proved themselves indispensable for the shortest format of the game. Pandya recently completed a double of 100 T-20I wickets and 1000 runs, and Bumrah has already established himself as a T-20 specialist. So, BCCI feels both these players’ workloads should be managed carefully.

Without Pandya in the ODIs, India might try Nitish Kumar Reddy in the role. He was there in the previous ODI series against the Proteas as well, but didn’t get a game. Instead, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar filled two all-rounders’ roles. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana took the pace-bowling responsibilities.

It must be noted that Pandya hasn’t played an ODI since the Champions Trophy final earlier this year, while Bumrah has been kept away since the infamous November 19, 2023. Following the T20 World Cup 2026 at home, India’s next ODI series will be against England away from home in July. Both Pandya and Bumrah, if fit, will be seen playing there.