IND vs NZ ODI series will begin on January 11 in Vadodara, raising high expectations with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli set to return.
Virat Kohli missed Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Railways on January 6, creating buzz ahead of the series.
No official reason has been given for Kohli’s absence; it is seen as part of his preparation strategy for the New Zealand ODIs.
Kohli earlier played two Vijay Hazare matches, scoring a century and a half-century, before missing games due to personal reasons.
BCCI rules require only two domestic matches for centrally contracted players, a condition Kohli has already fulfilled.
Kohli is expected to return directly in the India–New Zealand ODI series, with team management prioritising international readiness over domestic games.