Shubman Gill, India's ODI captain, is setting his sights on the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, eager to make an impact after a period plagued by injury concerns. The series marks Gill's return to the Indian team after being sidelined due to a toe injury last month, which also led to his exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad.

Gill's tryst with injuries began late last year. He suffered a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa in November 2025 and was hospitalized after experiencing a neck spasm. This injury forced him to miss the second Test and the subsequent ODI series against the Proteas. Before the toe injury, the neck issue had already disrupted his momentum.

Reflecting on his time away from the field, Gill admitted to the frustration of missing games, especially after being appointed as the ODI captain in October 2025. Despite the setbacks, he focused on his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, working on his skills and fitness. Visuals shared by the BCCI showed Gill practicing his shots under the supervision of a strength and conditioning coach.

Gill has an impressive record against New Zealand in the 50-over format, scoring 623 runs in just 12 matches at an average of 69.22, including two centuries and five fifties. He also smashed his maiden ODI double century, scoring 208 runs against the Kiwis.

With the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup approaching next year, Gill emphasized the importance of maximizing every opportunity to fine-tune team combinations. He stressed the need to identify players who can contribute in different conditions, given the limited number of ODIs scheduled.

In related news, Shreyas Iyer, India's ODI vice-captain, has also received clearance to join the squad after recovering from a spleen injury sustained during the tour of Australia in October 2025. Iyer's injury had kept him out of action, preventing him from participating in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the home ODIs against South Africa. He has since captained Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The three-match ODI series against New Zealand commences on Sunday in Vadodara, followed by games in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18. While the squad sees the return of Gill and potentially Iyer, key players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are absent. Pandya is managing his workload in consideration of the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup.