Overview
- Washington Sundar was ruled out of the last two ODIs after sustaining a rib injury in the first match, team batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said.
- Delhi all-rounder Ayush Badoni received his maiden ODI call-up for the remaining games of the series against New Zealand.
- Kotak said India wanted a sixth bowling option, describing Badoni as a batter who can bowl and noting recent India A one-day performances.
- Aakash Chopra called the pick "slightly unpopular" yet framed it as a like-for-like move, highlighting Badoni's economical spells in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, including 3/30 versus Railways.
- Badoni’s List A record stands at 693 runs at 36.47 with one century and five fifties, plus 18 wickets at an economy of 4.54, while Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh were not considered for role-fit reasons outlined by Chopra.