Former India batter Robin Uthappa has sent a bold message to Virat Kohli regarding his Test retirement, suggesting that the star batter should reconsider his decision. Uthappa posted a picture of Kohli in the nets ahead of the India vs New Zealand ODI series, with the caption, “Them eyes tell you a story. Surely it's time to rescind his Test retirement. Would love to see him back in Test cricket.”

Kohli retired from Test cricket just before the England series in 2025 and has since only been active in ODIs. He will be taking part in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Despite the ongoing T20 World Cup focus, Kohli's presence alongside Rohit Sharma is expected to lead India’s charge in the ODIs.

Kohli and Rohit both played a couple of matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, showcasing their form with big runs and signaling that they are far from done. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill returns to the team after being dropped from the T20 World Cup squad, with concerns over his form and recent injury troubles.

The return of Shreyas Iyer will help stabilize India’s batting order, and KL Rahul will continue his role as the wicketkeeper in the lower order, keeping Rishabh Pant out of the XI. Pant had limited involvement in India’s preparations for the series due to injury.

The ODI squad sees the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, who have been kept fresh for T20Is, while Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna will lead the pace attack. Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja will manage spin duties.

On the other hand, New Zealand’s squad is missing several key players, including Mitchell Santner, Kane Williamson, and Tom Latham. However, the Black Caps will look to experiment with new players such as Michael Bracewell, who will lead the team in Santner's absence. Despite these changes, New Zealand still boasts a strong batting lineup with Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips among others.

The series kicks off at the new Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, marking the venue's first international men's match.