Gavaskar Calls India-New Zealand Series Early Warm-Up

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has said that India’s ongoing T20I series against New Zealand should be viewed as an early warm-up for the team. He added that India is not taking any match lightly and is preparing seriously to defend its T20 World Cup title.

Gavaskar praised India’s strong squad and depth, saying the team has plenty of talent to succeed in every match. He highlighted that the players are focused and using the series to fine-tune their skills ahead of the World Cup.

India recently took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series after a brilliant eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Guwahati on Sunday (January 25, 2026). Gavaskar said performances like these show that the team is in excellent form and ready for bigger challenges ahead.

He also noted that while the series is important for testing combinations and strategies, it gives India a chance to build confidence and momentum before the T20 World Cup.