Ruturaj Gaikwad has been dropped from India's ODI squad for the New Zealand series. This move was anticipated as it allows Shreyas Iyer to bat at number four. Gaikwad, who recently returned to ODIs due to Shubman Gill's injury, was positioned at number four, indicating a lack of opening opportunities until at least the 2027 World Cup, with Yashasvi Jaiswal now opening alongside Rohit Sharma.