Ruturaj Gaikwad was omitted from the ODI squad for the New Zealand series despite scoring a century in his last match against South Africa. Former spinner R Ashwin suggested Gaikwad's exclusion was due to competition for a middle-order slot, with Rishabh Pant potentially favored for being a left-hander. Ashwin also believes Gaikwad may struggle for consistent opportunities while senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain active.