Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s experience makes his return to the T20I squad a straightforward selection call, while describing India’s tour of New Zealand as a crucial examination of the team’s direction across formats.

“There is no substitute for experience. It’s not bought or sold in the market, so when you have experience with that kind of quality, it’s a no-brainer,” Shastri said of Bhuvneshwar, who has returned to the Indian T20I set-up after a four-year hiatus.

The 36-year-old’s recall follows impressive performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, where he played a key role in the franchise’s consecutive title triumphs. “With the kind of form he showed in the IPL and the years he’s been around India, he’ll be ideal for New Zealand conditions, or for that matter, any conditions,” Shastri said.

RCB’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar during the IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals (DC), at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
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K. MURALI KUMAR

India will play five T20Is and five ODIs alongside two Tests during the tour. While the longest format carries significant weight in the World Test Championship race, Shastri cautioned against viewing the other legs in isolation.

“The Test series is important. The emphasis now will be on the one-day game as well as T20. The whole tour of New Zealand is an important tour,” he said. “The full one and a half month is going to be critical because it will tell you where Indian cricket is going in the future. Conditions in New Zealand might be a little similar to what you might encounter in South Africa.”

Shastri also identified the tour as a significant challenge for ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, despite the batter’s familiarity with New Zealand conditions.

Shubman Gill of India bats during Day Four of the 4th Rothesay Test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford on July 26, 2025 in Manchester, England.
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Getty Images

“He is in prime form. He has always done well in New Zealand right from a young age. But for a young captain travelling there overseas, it will be a challenge,” he said.

On Rohit Sharma’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Shastri advocated continuity rather than reinvention.

“He doesn’t have to change for anybody in the world. He has been getting runs. There’s very little he has to change, and if there’s anything to be changed, he will know it better than anybody else,” he said.

(Watch India’s tour of New Zealand live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV from October 22.)

If there is one thing R. Ashwin knows all too well, it is the challenge of finding a place in the XI overseas, where conditions favour fast bowlers.

Having played in just one Test across two tours of New Zealand, India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format is no stranger to that predicament. As the Men in Blue prepare for another tour, Ashwin believes Kuldeep Yadav could face a similar selection dilemma in the T20Is, with Varun Chakaravarthy likely to be preferred again.

The 40-year-old feels the left-arm wrist spinner has been “treated unfairly” by the current think-tank. “Kuldeep hasn’t been the go-to man ever since this management has come to picking squads, and I think it’s quite unfortunate,” Ashwin said during a virtual media interaction.

Referring to Kuldeep’s exploits in India’s recent series against the West Indies, he said: “With so much dew, and when you know the conditions are against the bowler, to pin it upon one bowler who’s produced results over the years is really unfair.”

While Varun is returning from injury and is yet to regain his best form and fitness, Ashwin expects him to be the preferred one. “I think Varun will get the nod ahead of Kuldeep once again,” he said.

“It’ll be interesting to watch how he comes back from his injury, and side strains aren’t easy for a spinner. I wish him the best and I hope both of them get opportunities to explore their skill in that part of the world,” he added.

For Kuldeep, however, the challenge may not be so much about adapting to New Zealand conditions as getting the opportunity to bowl in them.

On India’s batting approach, Ashwin opined the Black Caps could challenge the visitors by preparing more demanding surfaces.

“If I were New Zealand, I would give slightly challenging pitches to India. But unfortunately, I am not,” he said, adding that he expects the white-ball leg to be high-scoring.

(Watch India’s tour of New Zealand live and exclusive on Sony Sports and LIV starting October 22).

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak highlighted Shubman Gill’s hunger to score big, calling the skipper’s unbeaten 233 against the West Indies here on Wednesday “one of the best innings” he had seen in ODI cricket.

“I feel that hunger is very important for a player. Normally, after getting to 100, you see batters get out. But when Gill was around 110-115, I felt he could probably get to 200.

“We always talk about the set batter finishing the game. Virat (Kohli) did it in the last match, and today Gill did it with Ruturaj (Gaikwad) alongside him. That hunger is important to play an innings like this.

“It was extremely humid. Even during the warm-up, we were out there for 45 minutes and were completely wet. We fielded for four hours, and then to bat the way Gill did was just unbelievable,” he said after the match.

Asked if it was a concern that the team had not been getting enough exposure to difficult conditions ahead of next year’s World Cup, he said: “As far as preparation is concerned, we’ll be playing five games in New Zealand.

“I’ve also been to South Africa, and there are wickets there that can be similar to our conditions. We have to prepare for whatever conditions come our way. Our batters will be ready.

“There will be difficult wickets in one-day cricket, and different venues will offer different conditions. Hopefully, by then, we’ll be prepared. Sometimes, I wonder how in the 1983 World Cup, 183 in 60 overs was a lot, and today even 400 doesn’t seem enough. Is it only the wickets, or is the standard of batting also going up? It’s debatable.”

West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul said India “played well in the PowerPlay” and put his team “on the back foot.” He added that the focus was on restoring “belief” among the bowlers.

Retiring New Zealand cricket greats Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu were named on Wednesday (April 29, 2026) in the White Ferns’ Women’s T20 World Cup squad for their “final mission” of defending the title.

The 15-strong squad is led by star all-rounder Amelia Kerr and features 10 players who won the title in Dubai in 2024, beating South Africa in the final.

Tawhid Hridoy’s half-century led Bangladesh to a six-wicket victory against New Zealand to open their T20 international series on Monday (April 27, 2026).

Hridoy finished 51 not out from 27 balls, including two fours and three sixes. He shared a 57-run partnership with Parvez Hossain and another 49 with Shamim Hossain in an unbeaten fifth wicket to help Bangladesh race to the victory.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sunday (April 19, 2026) visited the Guru Nanak Sikh Sangat Gurdwara in Otahuhu, Auckland, where he held a special meeting with Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to promote mutual harmony, understanding, and inclusivity among the Sikh community and other communities residing in New Zealand. They also deliberated on the significant contributions made by Sikhs towards the country’s development and strengthening the community here.

The West Indies bowled superbly in defence of a moderate total to beat New Zealand by seven runs on Wednesday (November 5, 2025) in the first game of a five-match Twenty20 series.

Captain Shai Hope top-scored with 53 from 39 balls as the West Indies made 164-6 after losing the toss and batting first on a pitch that was two-paced and unpredictable.

New Zealand was then going well at 70-2 in the 10th over, before losing seven wickets for 37 runs to slump to 107-9 in the 17th over.

The match seemed over but New Zealand captain Mitch Santner fanned home fans’ hopes with an outstanding display of power hitting as he made 55 from 28 balls.

Santner hit four fours and a six from the 18th over bowled by Matthew Forde, then three fours from the first three balls of the 19th over from Jason Holder.

New Zealand came to the final over needing 20 to win and Santner hit the third ball from Romario Shepherd for six.

But Santner couldn’t keep up the assault, taking only two runs from the next two balls before hitting a boundary from the final delivery.

“I think the way the West Indies bowled in the middle there, they really put pressure on us,” Santner said. “I guess we weren’t really able to go anywhere. We were reasonably happy with 164 at the turns but it was one of those nights I guess.”

The West Indies came to New Zealand from their series in Bangladesh and it seemed likely they would struggle in very different conditions where the ball swings and the bounce is more pronounced.

Eden Park usually provides pace and bounce, but Wednesday’s pitch was originally prepared for a rained-out Twenty20 against England last month and lacked its usual zip.

It produced a major challenge for all batters when the ball was banged into the surface.

The West Indies lost Brandon King (3) to the last ball of the first over of their innings from Jake Duffy. Alick Athanaze (16), who was lucky to avoid being run out at the non-striker’s end when he was 2, was eventually caught by Mark Chapman off Kyle Jamieson when he skied a pull shot.

The West Indies were 32-2 after the first power play.

Hope reached his ninth T20 half century with a six off Zak Foulkes’ bowling, then was clean bowled next ball swinging across the line at a delivery that stayed low.

Roston Chase (28) and Rovman Powell (33) put on 49 for the fifth wicket. Powell hit two fours and two sixes in a 23-ball knock, giving impetus to the innings as the West Indies added 53 in the last five overs.

New Zealand was 48-1 after the power play, losing Devon Conway (13) in the fourth over to a ball from Matthew Forde that was angled sharply in to the left-hander and pierced his tentative defensive shot. Tim Robinson (27) was out to the first ball after the power play.

New Zealand then became bogged down. Boundaries were rare and the fall of wickets regular as the Black Caps fell behind the run rate.

Chase bowled four excellent overs of off-spin to claim 3-26 and Jayden Seales took 3-32.

The teams meet again at the same venue on Thursday.

New Zealand fast bowler Will O’Rourke will be sidelined for up to three months because of a stress fracture in his lower back.

O’Rourke sustained the injury during New Zealand’s test series in Zimbabwe earlier this month.

He will not have to undergo surgery but will take part in a strength and conditioning program.

O’Rourke is likely to miss New Zealand’s Twenty20 series against Australia, the T20 and one-day series against England in October and white ball series against the West Indies in November. He could return for New Zealand’s three-test series against the West Indies in December.

The 24-year-old O’Rourke has quickly become a mainstay of New Zealand’s pace attack, taking 39 wickets in 11 tests since his debut against South Africa last year.