VADODARA: India captain Shubman Gill, sidelined for much of the last two months with injury concerns, has his sights on the three-match One-day International series against New Zealand as part of preparations for next year’s 50-over World Cup.

Gill, 26, who was named India’s 50-overs captain in October last year, has largely been out of action since mid-November following a neck injury during the test series against South Africa.

Since then, he has only played three Twenty20 Internationals against South Africa.

“Obviously, never easy, whenever you get injured, watching your team play and you feel like you are missing out on all those games,” Gill told reporters on Saturday.

“When you have just been named the captain, there are so many things that you want to do and when you set out, it’s definitely very frustrating. But at the same time, you just have to focus on what are the things that you need to do in that moment and kind of build on that.”

India will play New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series on Sunday in Vadodara. Gill emphasised the importance of using the series to evaluate players ahead of next year’s World Cup.

“In any series that we play, I think there is an aim or a goal behind it, keeping the World Cup in mind, so in all the series that we play, it’s very important to see the players, where and in which condition they can help us,” he said.

India’s stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be back in action after more than a month’s break from international cricket and Gill banked on their experience, calling their presence invaluable.

The 37-year-old Kohli and Sharma, 38, have been in top batting form in international and domestic cricket, scoring centuries and runs to turn back the clock.

Kohli and Sharma play only the ODI format after they retired from T20s — after the World Cup triumph in Barbados in 2024 — and Test cricket.

“One is the greatest opener of all time in ODIs and Virat is one of the greatest ODI batters ever, so definitely when you have these two people in your team, it makes your life a lot more easier,” Gill said.

“And whenever you are in a tough situation, they always have been in those kind of situations and conditions many times in their life, so you can always go to them and see how they are thinking or what they would do, and that piece of information is very valuable for any captain.”

Kohli, with 53 centuries, holds the record for the most hundreds in ODI history and, along with Sharma, is among the top 10 all-time ODI run-scorers.

T20 WORLD CUP SNUB

While India are preparing for the one-day series, the bigger buzz is about the Twenty20 World Cup from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka. Gill, however, could not find a place in India’s 15-member squad.

Opener Gill, who has gone 18 innings in T20 Internationals without a 50 and missed the last two matches against South Africa with a foot injury last month, was replaced by Sanju Samson in the World Cup squad.

Gill said he respected the Indian selectors’ shock decision, calling it “destiny”.

“I respect the selectors’ decision. I am where I have to be and whatever is written in my destiny, no one can take that from me,” Gill said. “As a player I want to win games for my team, but having said that, I respect the selectors’ decision. I wish the T20 team the very best. I hope that they win the World Cup.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s

ODI captain Michael Bracewell is keen to make the most of the Indian conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup.

“It’s always fun coming over and playing here,” said Bracewell, a left-hand batter and off-spinner. “A month before the T20 World Cup, getting used to these conditions. You won’t be in the same venue but in general, getting used to the nature of the surfaces that they have.”

Bracewell said he will name the playing XI at the toss but confirmed fast bowler Kristian Clarke will make his international debut in the ODI opener.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2026