All-rounder Scott Styris was dropped from the New Zealand squad on Sunday for the first two games in a series of seven one-day internationals against India.
Also missing from the 12-man party for the games in Auckland (Thursday) and Napier (next Sunday) named by chairman of selectors Richard Hadlee is the evergreen one-day stalwart Chris Harris, who is not fully fit following a shoulder injury.
Chris Cairns, still recovering from an operation on his right knee, and Andre Adams (back) were not considered for selection.
Hadlee said Styris might consider himself unlucky but he was competing with a number of other all-rounders.
"The door is by no means shut and the onus is on him and others to score some runs and take some wickets at domestic level," said Hadlee.
Styris scored 13 and 17 in the second Test win over India which ended earlier on Sunday, but Hadlee said it would have been unfair and irresponsible to use the low-scoring
The need to name New Zealand's 15 for the World Cup by December 31 means Hadlee and his panel have only the first two ODIs against India and domestic one-day matches to finalise their squad for the tournament in South Africa and Zimbabwe in February.
"We have to name 15 players at the end of the month for our World Cup campaign. Clearly we have a fairly good idea of who will fill most of those spots but until the deadline is reached we will be watching closely," said Hadlee.
New Zealand squad for first two ODIs against India:
Stephen Fleming (Wellington, captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond (both Canterbury), Paul Hitchcock (Wellington), Kyle Mills (Auckland), Brendon McCullum (Otago), Craig McMillan (Canterbury), Jacob Oram (Central Districts), Daryl Tuffey (Northern Districts), Mathew Sinclair (Central Districts), Daniel Vettori (Northern Districts), Lou Vincent (Auckland).
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