India batter Ajinkya Rahane has raised serious concerns over India’s team management following the shock 1–2 ODI series defeat to New Zealand at home, questioning both the lack of player security and the constant chopping and changing in the side. Speaking after India’s first-ever home ODI series loss to the Kiwis, Rahane stressed that clarity from the Gautam Gambhir-led setup is non-negotiable if India are serious about building a settled squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

India’s defeat exposed several cracks, with senior players like Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Rohit Sharma struggling for consistency, while the overall team balance appeared unsettled. Rahane pointed out that India have now lost five of their last nine ODIs, a worrying trend that, according to him, stems largely from frequent changes and a lack of role definition.

“There will be tough questions, and rightly so,” Ajinkya Rahane said on Cricbuzz. “India have lost five out of the last nine ODIs, and the reason is simple — too many changes. If you are looking at the World Cup, players need security and clarity from the management. If you want to back certain players in a format, then that clarity has to be communicated.”

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Rahane also acknowledged the disappointment among fans, noting how deeply cricket is woven into India’s sporting culture. He admitted expectations were high, especially considering New Zealand arrived with a depleted squad. “With due respect to all New Zealand players, many expected India to win comfortably, maybe even 3–0. That’s how high the standards are,” he said.

However, Rahane was quick to credit New Zealand for their disciplined and fearless cricket. From India’s perspective, he believes the focus now must shift to long-term planning rather than reactive selection calls.

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“From here, it’s about following the process,” Ajinkya Rahane concluded. “Decide which players you want to invest in, give them backing, and build continuity. Six months down the line, when ODI cricket comes back into focus, that stability will matter far more than short-term fixes.”