The Times of India

Why was Virat Kohli missing from India's nets session in Auckland? Here's the latest from India's preparations ahead of the New Zealand ODIs.

India had also beaten Australia in the semi-final to book their place in the title clash. After years of coming close, the team finally had a chance to win the trophy.

India will start a five-match ODI series against New Zealand at Eden Park, which has historically been challenging for them. Their ODI record at this venue shows only four wins out of eleven matches played against New Zealand. In their last encounter on November 25, 2022, New Zealand won by seven wickets in chase of 307 runs.

India won the first three matches to take an unassailable lead in the five-match series, but New Zealand bounced back by winning the final two games at home.

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul turn up the heat during an intense training session in the nets. Here's a look at their preparations, along with why Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were missing.

Shubman Gill put in a nearly three-hour workoutat Eden Park, combining an extended batting session with intensive fielding drills, while KLRahul was the only other designated batter tohit the nets. Virat Kohli opted for a gym session,with Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad also staying indoors ahead of India's ODI series opener against New Zealand on November 4.

Irfan Pathan has raised concerns regarding the selection of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the recent T20I series. Despite his experience, Bhuvneshwar struggled to perform effectively during the matches against New Zealand. Pathan indicated that this decision prevented young bowlers from gaining valuable experience in international cricket. He emphasized the need for selectors to provide opportunities for emerging fast bowlers. This approach is crucial for their development, especially in challenging play

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli made history on Sunday by becoming the youngest Formula One world champion at the age of 20. Antonelli secured the title after finishing third in a dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix, which was won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Sanju Samson's performance in the T20I series against New Zealand raised eyebrows, as he could only amass 67 runs over five encounters. His struggles culminated in just four runs during the final match, prompting discussions about alternatives like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Ravichandran Ashwin lightheartedly responded to critiques on social media. After initially leading 3-0, India concluded the series 3-2, following New Zealand's comeback in the last two games.

Lakshya Sen has finally ended his title drought by clinching the men's singles crown at the Hylo Open 2026, where he decisively defeated Jonatan Christie with scores of 21-17 and 21-10 in an exhilarating final held in Saarbrcken, Germany. PV Sindhu also shone brightly, securing her second title of the season against Line Hjmark Kjrsfeldt in the women's singles final.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir opens up on the challenges facing Team India, the emergence of young players and the team's preparations for the ongoing ODI series.

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert addresses the media after the T20I series against India. Seifert reflects on New Zealand's performance, their fightback in the final two matches, India's bowling attack, his own batting form and Glenn Phillips' record-breaking run-scoring performance in the series.

PV Sindhu triumphed at the Hylo Open Super 500 in Germany, overpowering Line Hojmark Kjrsfeldt in an impressive straight-set victory. With scores of 21-12 and 21-14, this win not only marks her second title this season but also earned her 9,200 points for the ranking. Her journey included reaching the French Open final, showcasing her remarkable athletic prowess and enhancing her chances for the upcoming BWF World Tour Finals.

After clinching the T20I series against New Zealand with a final score of 3-2, head coach Gautam Gambhir praised the collective effort of the team. Despite a setback in the last match, India's strong beginning had already ensured their series triumph. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were pivotal in this encounter, exemplifying how the players effectively embraced high-pressure situations throughout the series.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has high praise for Shreyas Iyer. Here's what he said about the Indian batter in Hamilton.

Mohammad Yousuf has urged Babar Azam to pursue specialised coaching in Australia or South Africa. Yousuf expressed concerns over Babar's current batting struggles during the recent tri-series final against Sri Lanka. Despite Pakistan's victory, Babar's lack of significant contributions has raised questions about his form. Calls for Babar to focus on improvement before the upcoming Test series have also been voiced.

After the defeat to New Zealand, Indias captain Shreyas Iyer reflected on the team's performance, admitting flaws in batting, bowling, and fielding. Scoring 191 runs, the team struggled with key partnerships at pivotal moments. New Zealand triumphed due to significant contributions from Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips. Iyer called for enhanced focus on fielding, especially in tough conditions, claiming that although the team lost, valuable lessons were still learned.

Glenn Phillips made headlines by setting the record for the most runs in a bilateral T20I series, scoring 341 runs against India. His series was marked by an impressive century and three half-centuries, showcasing his talent. Despite New Zealand's overall loss of 2-3, the teams last match saw Tim Seifert shine with a fantastic 93, boosting morale as they look to build on this progress.

Despite a seven-wicket defeat in the fifth T20I, India claimed the five-match series 3-2. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer contributed with hard-hitting half-centuries, while Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips steered New Zealand to victory in the final match. Though New Zealand triumphed in this game, India's earlier wins secured their series success, showcasing the competition's intensity and skill on both sides.

Rohit Sharma faces a challenging outing in the nets in Auckland as Team India gears up for the ODI series against New Zealand. Watch the latest training updates and preparations from India's camp ahead of the series.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have continued to open the innings and played key roles in India's successful defence of their T20I World Cup title earlier this year.