Unless there are injuries or other extraordinary circumstances, the World Cup team will dress similarly to the one for the New Zealand series, according to a BCCI source with knowledge of the development.
The team chosen for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand will also be the same for India’s 2026 T20 World Cup campaign. The subcontinent will host the 20-over World Cup between February 7 and March 8.
Teams competing in ICC tournaments are required to submit their final 15-man roster one month before the event begins. Up until a deadline set by the highest authority, the selection panel can alter the final team.
“Unless someone is sidelined by a specific injury, there won’t be many changes made to the actual team with just ten Twenty20 Internationals remaining before the Twenty20 World Cup. According to the source, who was cited by NDTV Sports, “one of the main reasons is continuity and the 15 selected for the series against the Black Caps won’t be tampered with because of the short turnaround time.”
It is also believed that head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav would get one last chance to test a few players prior to the series against the Kiwis during the five-match T20I series against South Africa. The five Twenty20 Internationals will serve as a dress rehearsal for the main event.
The BCCI had adhered to the same model as the Champions Trophy 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2024. India ultimately prevailed convincingly in both tournaments.
Nagpur (January 21), Raipur (January 23), Guwahati (January 25), Vizag (January 28), and Trivandrum (January 31) will host the five Twenty20 International matches against New Zealand. Three ODIs will come before the T20Is.
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