Shubman Gill admitted that he would have preferred the ODI series against New Zealand to be played before the T20Is, allowing India to field their strongest available squad for all five matches without having to manage players ahead of the upcoming Test series.
“If it had been one-day first, then T20, and then Test, we could have played all five [ODI] matches [with our strongest squad], but [we couldn’t do this] because the gap between the one-day [series] and Test matches was very small,” Gill told reporters in Auckland ahead of the first ODI.
However, the two-Test series against New Zealand has taken on added significance following South Africa’s impressive series victory over Australia, which has made the World Test Championship (WTC) qualification race more competitive.
“The WTC scenario has become very interesting. The series that happened between Australia and South Africa was really interesting, and has balanced the table very nicely. Hopefully, if we play well in the Test series here, and then we play Australia at home, that gives us a chance of playing in the final,” Gill said.
India are currently fourth in the WTC standings and remain outsiders in the race to qualify for the final. Former champions New Zealand lead the table with a points percentage (PCT) of 72.22, followed by South Africa at 71.43 and Australia at 69.33. Australia had occupied the top spot before their series defeat to the Proteas.
India, who have a PCT of 51.22, still have an opportunity to improve their position. A strong performance in the two-Test series against New Zealand, followed by a successful five-Test campaign against Australia at home, could put them back in contention.
However, beating New Zealand will be a difficult challenge. India last defeated the Black Caps in a home Test series in 2009, and the upcoming contest could prove crucial to their qualification hopes. Winning both Tests would take India’s PCT to 58.97, while a defeat could see it fall to 43.59, leaving their chances of reaching the final in serious jeopardy.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have their own demanding schedule ahead. They are set to tour Australia for a four-Test series later this year, where they will look to overcome a long-standing record of not winning a Test series Down Under since 1986. If they struggle against Australia, their points percentage could take a significant hit. Any dropped points by Australia would also benefit India’s qualification prospects.
Sri Lanka are also scheduled to tour New Zealand for a two-Test series after that, giving the Black Caps another opportunity to strengthen their position.
South Africa, despite their recent rise in the standings, also face a challenging run-in. They are scheduled to play Bangladesh before hosting England for a three-Test series.
