Kiwi coffers welcome an Indian batch lacking margin for error

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2026 is an election year in New Zealand and 7th November is the day that will determine the political future of the country for the next three years, coinciding with the second ODI between India and New Zealand. Indians currently make up about 6% of New Zealand’s total population, the third largest ethnic group in the country after Europeans and Māori. “Singh” has been the most registered newborn surname since 2018. The Indian vote bank is an extremely important one for every political party, just as important as an Indian men’s cricket tour is to any country in the world. The economy is currently experiencing a slow, patchy recovery marked by low growth and rising inflation pressures. A full-fledged Indian cricket tour is just the kind of boost it desperately needs.

New Zealand Cricket recently announced a preliminary deficit of $7.3 million for the financial year ending 31st July 2026, which is more than four times higher than its original budgeted deficit of $1.8 million. The primary causes for the huge difference in budget compared to actuals were broadcast revenue mismatch, a reduction in income following changes to NZC’s partnership with Dream 11 and an increase in their overall costs. This year with a full Indian tour – 5 T20Is, 5 ODIs and 2 Tests – the dollars will roll in to not only wipe out the deficit but also create a $10 million surplus. Then in 2028 New Zealand is co-hosting the men’s T20 World Cup with Australia which will lead to another windfall of funds from the ICC.

A third revenue generation outlet is the potential sale of franchises in the recently announced NZ20 cricket league. Australia wanted to add a couple of new teams to the BBL and approached NZC for the same. Two New Zealand teams in arguably the second-best franchise tournament in the world was an awesome opportunity, but the NZC board decided against it and announced their own franchise tournament to replace the existing local T20 tournament from the summer of 2027.

The monetary value of India's tour is significant in New Zealand Cricket's books.

It is widely spoken that the previous CEO, Scott Weenink, who was in favor of joining the BBL lost the board and the players association over his stand and re-signed from his position. Well known ex-cricketer Dion Nash who was a board member followed suit, and so did a longtime manager of public affairs and PR. The NZ20 decision was announced without any details which led to heavy criticism of the board. One of New Zealand’s best cricketers ever, Sir Richard Hadlee, said in a recent letter to the NZ board that he was embarrassed to have his personal name attached to NZC at present. He raised serious concerns about governance, transparency, accountability and the future direction of cricket in New Zealand. The letter created ripples in cricketing circles as it came from one of the most honest, hardworking and professional cricketers to ever represent the country. It prompted a response from the chairman of the board Diana Puketapu-Lyndon who tried to clarify the NZ20 decision, however the response lacked detail.

The licensing agreement between NZC & NZ20 has not yet been finalized, NZ20 is still working to secure investment partners for the tournament and there is a lot of work pending – finalizing franchises, sale of franchises, player auctions – for a tournament that is scheduled to start in a years’ time. Also kicking off at that juncture will be the 2027 ODI World Cup, where New Zealand might prove a thorn in India’s flesh once again.

A bogey team in sports is an opponent that consistently defeats or plays unusually well against a specific team, no matter what their current form, position, or tactical skill level might suggest. It wouldn’t be wrong in saying that New Zealand is a bogey team as far as India is concerned. From the final of the Champions Trophy in Kenya 2000 to the World Cup semi-final in 2019. The final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021 to the T20 World Cup in 2021, New Zealand has always been the hurdle in India’s path. The icing on the cake was the 3-0 Test series win by the Kiwis on Indian soil followed by the 2-1 ODI series win earlier this year. New Zealand’s recent white ball form has also been very impressive. They were the finalists when India won the Champions Trophy in March 2025 and the T20 World Cup in March 2026.

The next T20 World Cup is still two years away, so you are right in questioning the logic of a five-match T20I series instead of an additional Test, but it is the cash cow ensuring the other formats stay alive. In the battle of cricket versus commerce, commerce always wins.

India have won the last two editions of the T20 World Cup, and the world agrees that the IPL is the best T20 franchise tournament in the world by some distance. Pundits often talk about the riches of talent that India has in the format. A line we often hear is “India could field multiple T20 teams in ICC tournaments and they will all do well.” But this statement needs to come with a caveat: if the matches are played in the subcontinent.

An Indian unit devoid of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah were recently humbled 2-0 by Ireland, then 4-0 by England and drew a home series against the West Indies 2-2. When Bumrah featured, India won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan and defeated Afghanistan 3-0 at home. It was Bumrah who single-handedly turned the tide against South Africa in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. In the semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup once again he was the point of difference between India and England in a nail biter. Without Bumrah India has struggled to defend targets in white-ball cricket. He is India’s most valuable player, hence it is understandable why the board wraps him in cotton wool.

Similarly, India haven’t yet found an able replacement for Hardik. It is difficult to find someone who can regularly bowl at 85 mph while also having the ability to consistently smash cricket balls out of stadiums. They have tried several players including Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dubey and Suryansh Shedge but none of them have looked like they are in the same league as Hardik. When Hardik plays, he provides the necessary balance to the team. Depending on the surface, he allows you to play the extra batter or bowler and his absence in New Zealand will be dearly missed.

India’s batting though is packed with power and will certainly entertain the Kiwi crowds. Until now India’s approach with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been about easing him into the set-up but rather than waste his precious form on the bench they need to find a space for all three – Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Sooryavanshi – in the XI like they did in the Asian Games final. 

The bowling however will determine the outcome of the series, and all eyes will be on the comeback of veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He was one of the casualties of the semi-final loss to England at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Getting dropped after representing your country in 230 games across all three formats is a tough pill to swallow. Motivating yourself as a fast bowler to make a comeback is even tougher. Bhuvneshwar though had a point to prove. He worked on his skills and fitness, added variety to his arsenal and went back into the grind of domestic and franchise cricket.

Stellar performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament and the UP T20 league followed. The clincher though, from a selectorial perspective, were the 45 wickets across 30 matches in the 2025 and 2026 IPL campaigns which helped RCB lift back-to-back titles. The fact that he was selected two days after Ajit Agarkar’s three-year term as chief selector ended is a story for another day but for now it’s time to watch the white-ball talk when it is back in Bhuvi’s hands.

Apart from Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand have picked their first-choice squad for the T20I series. Rachin will be disappointed at missing out on such a marquee series. This is the third time he is out of action because of a freak injury. In February 2025 he was struck in the forehead while fielding at deep square leg during an ODI tri-series match against Pakistan. He passed initial concussion protocols, received stitches on-site, and missed subsequent matches. Then in October 2025 he suffered a major facial laceration after colliding with an advertisement hoarding while attempting a catch during a fielding practice session ahead of the series against Australia. It required intricate specialist stitches and ruled him out of the Chappell-Hadlee T20I series. And most recently he dislocated his right shoulder while going for a diving catch during a promotional shoot with Sky Sports in Auckland. They say things come in threes so hopefully Rachin’s luck improves from now on.

With Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Glen Phillips in their ranks New Zealand too have some serious pedigree in their batting line up but like with India it will be their bowling that will need to step up if they are to win the series. Even though the slam-bang spectacle will drive the finances, fixtures in the 50-over format pip it on the grounds of context.

The next ODI World Cup is less than a year away in the South African hemisphere, rendering the five-match ODI series a key assignment for both sides to keep the regulars in sync with the format, give new players game-time and try out different combinations. It will be the last time that cricket fans in New Zealand get to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in action. Their recent ODI form suggests that they are well placed to have a great series. The squad changes a bit after the third ODI as the rampaging Shreyas Iyer takes charge to lend the Test pros such as Gill room to prepare for the red-ball series to follow. Along with the India A tour, which runs concurrently to the white-ball contests, this is a great initiative as it suggests that India are still chasing a place in the WTC final.

Placed at fifth, the protagonists of the 2023 summit clash have seven tests remaining till the end of the current cycle and winning all seven guarantees them a place in the final. With the recent changes in the selection committee and Bhuvneshwar making a surprise comeback to the T20I format one feels that there is still hope for Mohammed Shami to play for India again. But for that to happen he will have to continue to do what’s in his control – consistently pick up wickets at an average of 25 or lower while keeping his body in fine fettle.

India will count on Bhuvneshwar Kumar's experience in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.

Primed to make the WTC final, New Zealand have also picked split squads for the ODI series. Rachin will be back leading the charge upfront in the company of Daryl Mitchell. Mitchell Santner, as usual, will be miserly with the ball. His cool and calm leadership, inspired by the Kane Williamson style of captaincy, has proved to be hugely successful so far.

New Zealand have been a force to be reckoned with in Test cricket for a while now. Since that 3-0 victory against India in India, they have added another feather to their cap by beating England in an away series 2-1. Ex-New Zealand wicketkeeper and one of the best cricket commentators ever, Ian Smith recently said that he is so impressed by the current Test team that for the first time he feels that New Zealand have a genuine chance of beating Australia in Australia in the four Tests scheduled later this year. Keeping that series in mind New Zealand are taking a cautious approach with one of their most talented young fast bowlers, Will O’Rourke. In his short career so far, he has been right on the money. His ability to seam the ball both ways at high pace is useful but it’s the sharp bounce he generates from a good length that makes things awkward for batters around the world. But as is the case with most fast bowlers he is regularly battling injuries, hence the kid-glove treatment.

Although the Blackcaps are yet to announce their Test team for the series, they have all the bases covered. Matt Henry is currently the number two ranked Test bowler in the world and the leader of a very formidable attack in home conditions. Tom Latham has taken to captaincy like a fish to water and along with Devon Conway, Rachin and Mitchell forms a solid quartet that is capable of consistently delivering big runs. In the touring camp, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows though. 

India started the current WTC cycle with a 2-2 draw against England in a five-match series away from home. Looking at the current state of English cricket – a 4-1 loss in the Ashes and a 2-1 loss at home versus New Zealand – one feels that India missed many golden opportunities to get ahead and win that series. Next was a 2-0 series win versus the West Indies at home followed by a 2-0 loss to South Africa at home. The South Africa result was more shocking than the 3-0 loss to New Zealand because one thought that they would have learnt from the mistakes they made against New Zealand. This was followed by a 1-0 series win against Sri Lanka away from home.  India’s inability to find a way to win that second Test in Sri Lanka will also be concerning. Several players in the current Test squad were a part of that 3-0 drubbing by New Zealand at home, licking their wounds. It remains to be seen if they can channel that hurt into a gritty performance in foreign conditions. 

Captain Shubman Gill is a class act, and must extend his rich vein of form for India to harbour any aspirations of glory. Devdutt Padikkal excelled in Sri Lanka and has the all-round game to succeed in all conditions, although Australia A did consign the southpaw to lean returns. Bumrah is only playing the Tests on this tour so will be well rested and hungry to do well. Akash Deep’s performance will also be critical for India’s success. He is a terrific swing and seam bowler who will enjoy bowling in friendly Kiwi conditions. He has the knack of picking up wickets and the ability to run through a side in a single spell.

Speaking of impact, Manav Suthar’s omission from the Test fold is notable. The left-arm spinner picked up 23 wickets at 17.34 in the three Tests he’s played so far. He is an orthodox operator who rolls back the years, employing flight, bounce, dip, drift and turn to cast a web. Good spinners do not depend on turning tracks to get batters out, they are all-weather customers. Having said that, the New Zealand wickets are unlikely to grip for the first three days of a Test, at least, and the Blackcaps themselves hardly ever include a spinner at home. Remember Ajaz Patel was dropped for the home Test series against Bangladesh in December 2021 just weeks after becoming only the third bowler in Test cricket history to bag a perfect ten? It is difficult to find a more ruthless horses-for-courses selection than that.

When you pick a squad albeit wouldn’t you pick it anticipating that the matches will go the distance? With Ravindra Jadeja’s place in the playing XI being a certainty the reluctance to pick Suthar for the tour is somewhat understandable, but what will India do if Jadeja is injured on the morning of the game and the surface demands a spinner? On current form you have left your best spinner at home. One can only hope that the selectors and the team management have communicated their decision fairly well to Suthar. 

The halcyon New Zealand summer officially starts on December 1st, which is the last day of this tour so the entirety of it will be conducted in the New Zealand spring. NZC experimented with this idea last year, but the weather during the white-ball tours of Australia and England turned out to be wet and frustrating. Therefore, it is inevitable that we will lose some game-time due to the elements. The dozen matches will be played at six different stadiums. Four of these namely; Hagley Oval, Seddon Park, Bay Oval and Basin Reserve have traditional cricket surfaces whereas the Hnry Stadium in Wellington and Eden Park in Auckland hold drop-in pitches. Being springtime the pitches will have a bit in them early on but as the ball loses its shine New Zealand pitches turn out to be batting beauties with true pace and bounce. The key is to give yourself a bit of time, keep wickets in hand and then cash in when the conditions are in your favor.

At a time where international cricketing calendars are chock-a-block, a three-format tour is a rare occurrence. If the weather Gods remain kind, it should be a cracking tour of cricket. The famous American author Julia Cameron once famously wrote that “Often it is tenacity and not talent that rules the day”. Will India’s wunderkinds be able to surpass the tenacity of the hosts? Either way, the bankroll is sure to benefit. 

Rahul Patil is an Auckland-based cricket storyteller who will be travelling across the length and breadth of New Zealand covering the entire tour of India for White Glove.

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