New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell has thrown his weight behind Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, insisting it would be “silly to underestimate” the duo and backing them to feature in next year’s ODI World Cup. Speaking ahead of New Zealand’s limited-overs tour of India, Bracewell made it clear that experience still holds immense value in world cricket, especially when it comes to players of Kohli and Rohit’s calibre.
Both Indian legends, who now feature only in the ODI format for India, are set to return to action in the three-match ODI series starting Sunday in Vadodara. The series will then move to Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18. With the ODI World Cup firmly on the horizon, performances in this series are expected to carry significant weight for both teams.
“I’d like to see them play in the World Cup. They’re obviously still playing very good cricket, so there’s no reason to stop,” Michael Bracewell said while addressing the media on the sidelines of the New Zealand Cricket Golf Day, organised by NZC in partnership with TCM Sports at the Willingdon Sports Club. “They’re both playing beautifully. Their records speak for themselves, both individually and as a team. You’d be silly to underestimate them, that’s for sure.”
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Bracewell will lead a slightly understrength New Zealand side in the ODIs, with several key players, including Mitchell Santner, Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra, missing from the tour. The 34-year-old all-rounder admitted that filling the void left by senior players would not be easy, but stressed the importance of collective responsibility.
“Whenever you’re missing players of Mitch Santner’s calibre, you’re always going to struggle to replace them,” Bracewell explained. “You can’t replace someone like-for-like, but you ask others to step up, do their role, and contribute in whatever way they can. If everyone mucks in, you give yourself a chance.”
Despite the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup being just over a month away, Michael Bracewell emphasised that the ODI series against India remains a crucial part of New Zealand’s preparation.
“You have to be where your feet are,” he said. “One-day cricket demands different skill sets. You need patience, adaptability and the ability to apply pressure for long periods. Spending time in Indian conditions before the World Cup is incredibly valuable for us.”
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New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the inclusion of fresh faces in the squad. “There are a few new quicks and young players coming through,” Kyle Jamieson noted. “This tour gives them exposure and gives us a solid month to prepare through ODIs and T20Is before the World Cup.” Jamieson added that every team arriving in India has one goal in mind. “We want to win the World Cup, just like everyone else. This tour is about preparation, learning quickly, and putting our best foot forward.”
Meanwhile, TCM Sports MD Lokesh Sharma underlined the significance of the collaboration with New Zealand Cricket, stating that the Golf Day reflected NZC’s culture while strengthening ties in a key market like India.
