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Revealed- Why Hardik Pandya has not been picked in India ODI squad vs New Zealand? 

Jatin

Hardik Pandya has been rested from IND vs NZ ODI series [Source: @BCCI/x.com]Hardik Pandya has been rested from IND vs NZ ODI series [Source: @BCCI/x.com]

The cricket grapevine got buzzing when the BCCI dropped India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11. Shubman Gill takes charge while Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the mix, but one big name missing from the list instantly set tongues wagging.

Yes, Hardik Pandya wasn’t picked. And no, it’s not about form or injury. The lanky all-rounder has been excluded from India’s squad for New Zealand ODIs because of his workload management, long-term thinking, and keeping the main man fresh for the bigger battle ahead.

BCCI takes no risk as Hardik Pandya misses India ODI series vs New Zealand

The BCCI made things crystal clear through an official press release. Hardik hasn’t been cleared by the BCCI Centre of Excellence to bowl a full 10-over spell in ODIs. With the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 around the corner, the selectors decided not to roll the dice.

The upcoming T20 World Cup will be played across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. India are defending champions and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In that context, risking Hardik’s body in a bilateral ODI series would be like fixing a leaking roof during a cyclone. As a result, the call was clear to rest him now and unleash him later.

Workload management over short-term gain

Hardik Pandya has been through enough injuries in the last couple of years. The selectors know his value goes beyond just one series. As a fast-bowling all-rounder, his body takes double the pounding.

Bowling ten overs, batting explosively, and fielding hard is as hard as it gets. That is why the BCCI chose the safe route. Manage the workload to keep the engine running smooth.

Vijay Hazare Trophy knock shows Hardik means business

If there were any lingering doubts, Hardik swatted them away in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with a sensational knock. Turning up for Baroda against Vidarbha in Rajkot, he played one of those knocks that scream intent.

Hardik smoked 133 off just 92 balls with eight fours and eleven sixes. At one point, he was cruising at 66 off 62. In the next 30 balls, he blasted 67 runs. One over from Parth Rekhade went for 34 runs. In four minutes flat, Hardik went from fifty to a hundred.

He was the lone warrior for Baroda. Vidarbha eventually chased down the target, thanks to Aman Mohade’s unbeaten 150, but Hardik had already made his statement.

The bigger picture behind the decision

Meanwhile, the decison to leave Hardik Pandya out is smart cricket administration by the BCCI. The seasoned all-rounder is not a short-term fix. He is a match-winner who changes games in a blink. Rushing him back into ODIs when his bowling workload isn’t fully cleared would do the team more harm than good in the long run.

Letting him rest now is a wise call. Because when a World Cup is on the line, you don’t want Hardik at 80 percent. You want him breathing fire.