India cricket team are eyeing to keep their best talents fresh for the T20 World Cup 2026 which will start in February 2026. This means the likes of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah wil not feature in the IND vs NZ ODI series. Round 3 of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 saw some of the Team India regulars like Risabh Pant anf Abhishek Sharma disappoint while some young IPL talents had good outings. Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir has been advised to take notes from Ranji Trophy coaches in order to improve his track record as coach in the red-ball format. On that note, let’s take a look at some of the top headlines from Monday (December 29).
Bumrah, Pandya to skip ODI series
To manage the workload of X-factor players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to prioritize certain players for certain formats. In a major development, both Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are set to be rested from India’s first assignment of 2026, which is a three-match one-day international series against New Zealand. Read more here.
India women rated 7/10
It seems that the Indian women’s cricket team can do no wrong. They recently won the Women’s World Cup 2025, and in their first series after that, vs Sri Lanka, they are leading 4-0. In the match on Sunday, the team beat the opposition by 30 runs. Team’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who struck 80 in the encounter, minced no words, and spoke about the improvements needed in the side. Read more here.
Gambhir asked to become Ranji coach
Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has advised India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir to become a Ranji Trophy coach in order to fare better as the national team’s red-ball coach. Panesar claimed that Gambhir needs to converse with Ranji Trophy coaches in order to gain knowledge on how to build a red-ball team. Read more here.
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Rishabh Pant fails, Jurel shines
Rishabh Pant and Abhishek Sharma failed to fare well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy round 3 matches while some of the uncapped Indian players emerged as top performers for their respective teams. Pant, who is battling for a spot in the Indian ODI team, managed to score just 22 runs off 26 deliveries before he was forced to walk back to the pavilion. Check performance of all teams from VHT 3rd round here.
Bumrah commences training
Jasprit Bumrah seems to have commenced his preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026 already, even though he isn’t a part of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The veteran pacer is currently on a break after taking part in the Test series at home against WI and SA followed by the T20I series against the Proteas. Bumrah is expected to be seen in action next in the IND vs NZ T20I series which will take place just before the T20 WC. Read more here.
One more VHT game for Kohli
Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal, will turn up in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) in upcoming days. Virat Kohli will be seen next in the Round 6 game for Delhi, which is against Railways. It will be played on January 6. As for Jaiswal, he will be featuring in a couple of games for Mumbai. Read more here.
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