Shubman Gill turns up the heat in training ahead of the New Zealand ODI series

Shubman Gill is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations for India’s upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. The Indian skipper is set to lead the team in the first three matches of the five-match competition, which begins in Auckland on November 4. India will be looking to get off to a good start on the tour as they prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

In an effort to prepare for the challenging conditions in New Zealand, Gill financed four to five bowlers to accompany him on tour and help him fine tune his game. The arrangement is primarily aimed at preparing him for the red ball ahead of the two-Test series later in November.

GILL EYES STRONG SHOW IN NEW ZEALAND

The twenty-six-year-old player emphasized preparation before a demanding international deployment. He also appeared in a Ranji Trophy match for Punjab against Chhattisgarh before traveling to New Zealand, giving him the opportunity to gain valuable match practice. The extra preparation could help him adapt to the conditions that often present a challenge to visiting batsmen.

Gill will be keen to impress in the ODI series after a mixed outing against New Zealand in early 2026. During the three-match series in India in January, he scored 135 runs in three innings at an average of 45. His campaign included back-to-back half-centuries of 56 in the first two ODIs before making 23 in the series decider.

India eventually lost the series 2–1, with New Zealand securing their first ever ODI series win on Indian soil. Gill will now look to produce more significant contributions as he leads India in the opening three matches of the upcoming competition.

Five ODIs are scheduled to take place between November 4 and 15, with matches in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui. Gill will hand over the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer for the final two matches before turning his attention to the Test series starting on November 19.

With senior batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also part of the ODI squad, Gill will have an experienced core around him as India look to start the tour on a positive note.

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