Watch: Gautam Gambhir smiles as he reunites with Hardik Pandya & Jasprit Bumrah ahead of IND vs NZ 2026 T20Is

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir welcomed Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya with a warm hug and a big smile ahead of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The two players were rested for the recent three-match ODI series and are now set to play an important role in the team’s T20 plans, including the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Gautam Gambhir and other members of the Indian team joined the T20I squad in Nagpur as preparations began for the series opener on January 21. India missed Bumrah and Pandya during the ODI series, which New Zealand won to claim their first-ever series victory on Indian soil.

Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak were seen smiling as they met the returning players during a practice session for the first T20I. After handshakes, hugs, and brief chats, the players returned to the nets while the coaches continued to watch the session.

Watch the video here:

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Team India under pressure after ODI setback

Gautam Gambhir has returned to the T20I setup after a difficult run with the ODI team against New Zealand. Under his tenure, India suffered their third bilateral ODI series defeat as the Blackcaps outplayed the hosts with clear wins in Rajkot and Indore to complete a strong comeback.

Despite pressure in the longer formats, Gambhir’s record in T20Is remains strong. Under his leadership, India has lost only four T20I matches, won six straight bilateral series, and lifted the 2025 Asia Cup.

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Fans unhappy after ODI series loss

Team India has faced heavy criticism following the ODI series defeat. Fans in the stadiums and on social media have questioned Gambhir’s decisions, especially after recent poor results and his handling of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Some supporters also mocked the team management’s claims of progress despite weak results. Captain Shubman Gill’s ODI record is being compared with Sanju Samson’s performances in domestic 50-over tournaments. The selectors are also under fire for choosing Gill over Samson.

With this 2-1 result, New Zealand won an ODI series in India for the first time in 37 years. Along with their 3-0 Test series whitewash last year, it shows that Indian cricket is not in a happy place just over a year before the 2027 ODI World Cup.