By Sandipan Banerjee
The Indian Cricket Team’s white-ball itinerary for the tour of New Zealand later this year is set for a slight tweak, with the schedule likely to be reshaped to accommodate more One-Day International (ODIs) fixtures considering a greater commercial interest around the 50-over format.
As per the original Future Tours Programme (FTP), India were slated to play five T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests during their October–November visit, which will be their first full tour of New Zealand after six years. However, it is now understood that the series will feature five ODIs instead of three, while the T20I leg may get trimmed to three matches from the initially planned five. That said, there remains a strong possibility that both boards could still agree to retain the originally planned five T20Is alongside the five ODIs.
The CricHub has learnt from the sources close to the development that New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has proposed the alteration to their counterparts at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), keeping in mind the commercial pull of senior Indian stars in the 50-over format. The presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Team India’s ODI set-up is understood to be a key factor behind the move, with broadcasters and stakeholders expecting stronger returns from an expanded one-day series.
While India have gradually transitioned towards a younger T20 core in recent years, Rohit and Kohli remain central figures in the ODI scheme of things. An extended five-match series is expected to enhance gate revenues, broadcast viewership and overall commercial value, particularly in New Zealand, where Team India doesn’t tour often.
The tour will also include two Test matches, both forming part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. With valuable WTC points and Shubman Gill’s team’s qualification scenario for the 2027 Final at stake, the red-ball leg is likely to draw a lot of eyeballs as well.
An official confirmation from both boards is awaited, but indications suggest the revised white-ball schedule is close to being finalised, subject to logistical adjustments and broadcaster alignment.
(Sandipan Banerjee is a senior cricket journalist with over a decade of experience, specialising in international and associate cricket. Known for sharp analysis and on-ground reporting across major tournaments, he can be reached on X at @im_sandipan …)
