IND vs NZ Playing 11 Today, Live Streaming, Pitch & Weather: India tour of New Zealand 2026, 1st ODI

IND vs NZ Playing 11 Today, Live Streaming, Pitch & Weather: India tour of New Zealand 2026, 1st ODI

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Match Preview, Prediction, Pitch Report and Playing XI

India and New Zealand begin their five-match ODI series at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday, November 4, with both sides looking to build momentum in the 50-over format. Shubman Gill will lead India, while Mitchell Santner captains a New Zealand team eager to use home conditions to its advantage.

The series follows an entertaining T20I contest, which India won 3-2. The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli adds experience and star power to India’s ODI line-up, while New Zealand will look to Daryl Mitchell and its senior players to anchor the batting. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, this opening match also offers both teams a valuable chance to test combinations and assess emerging options.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Match Details

Match: India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI
Date: Wednesday, November 4
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
India captain: Shubman Gill
New Zealand captain: Mitchell Santner

IND vs NZ Match Preview and Recent Form

New Zealand enter the series with confidence after beating the West Indies 3-2 in July and defeating India 2-1 in their previous bilateral ODI series earlier this year. Daryl Mitchell was the standout performer in that India series, piling up 352 runs across three matches, including two centuries. His ability to handle pace and spin makes him a central figure in the hosts’ plans once again.

The home side is expected to build its top order around Will Young and Henry Nicholls, with Nick Kelly also in contention. Young scored 176 runs in New Zealand’s last ODI series against the West Indies, while Nicholls has shown encouraging form in domestic cricket, including a recent 119 in the Ford Trophy. Kelly’s 216 runs in his last five ODIs, at an average of 43, underline his potential to provide stability and momentum.

Tom Latham and Michael Bracewell should offer support through the middle order, while Santner’s all-round skills give New Zealand flexibility. However, injuries have disrupted the hosts’ preparations, placing extra responsibility on the available senior players.

India arrive after a strong home series against the West Indies, which they won 2-1. Their batting was particularly productive: India passed 300 in all three matches and successfully chased a target of 406 in the second ODI. The team has won seven of its 12 ODIs this year and will hope the return of Rohit and Kohli strengthens an already capable batting group.

Eden Park Pitch Report: What to Expect

Eden Park is known for its scoring opportunities, particularly because of its short straight boundaries. Batters who settle in can score quickly, but the opening overs may offer assistance to fast bowlers, with the new ball capable of producing swing and extra bounce. Bowlers will need accuracy, as loose deliveries can be punished.

The ground’s ODI record points toward a possible advantage for teams chasing. Of 86 men’s ODIs played at the venue, sides batting second have won 47, compared with 34 victories for teams batting first; five matches have ended in a tie or no result. The average first-innings score is 222, while the average second-innings total is 194.

New Zealand have won six of their 10 ODIs against India at Eden Park and chased down 307 in their most recent meeting at the ground. Given the venue’s history and the potential for early movement, the toss-winning captain may prefer to bowl first and assess the target under match conditions.

Notable ODI Records at Eden Park

Highest total: 340/5 by New Zealand against Australia
Lowest total: 73 all out by New Zealand against Sri Lanka
Highest successful chase: 340/5 by New Zealand against Australia
Lowest total defended: 153 all out by New Zealand against England
Highest individual score: Marcus Stoinis, 146 not out
Best bowling figures: Mitchell Starc, 6/28

Weather Forecast for Auckland

Sunny conditions are forecast in Auckland on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to range from 17°C to 21°C. Southeast winds of around 6–10 km/h are anticipated, and there is no significant rain threat. The outlook suggests a full match is likely, though conditions can always change closer to the start.

Team News and Squad Updates

New Zealand will be without Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman, who have been ruled out of the series with injuries. Henry Nicholls and Tim Seifert have joined the squad as replacements. Matt Henry’s participation will depend on a fitness assessment, leaving the pace attack’s final composition subject to his availability.

India have rested Jasprit Bumrah, while Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out after failing to receive fitness clearance following a hamstring injury. Auqib Nabi has been added to the squad for the first three matches. Gill is set to captain India in those games, with Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to feature in the opener before joining India A.

IND vs NZ Predicted Playing XI

New Zealand

Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.

India

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Siraj.

These are predicted line-ups, and the final teams will depend on fitness, playing conditions and the toss.

Key Player Battles to Watch

Daryl Mitchell vs Kuldeep Yadav: Mitchell’s strong record against India makes him a major threat in the middle overs. Kuldeep will look to vary his pace and flight, attack the stumps and prevent the batter from using his footwork to disrupt the length.

Rohit Sharma vs Kyle Jamieson: Rohit’s attacking approach could put pressure on New Zealand early, but Jamieson’s height allows him to extract bounce and target the channel outside off stump. The contest could shape India’s powerplay progress.

Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Santner: Santner is likely to rely on accurate lines, subtle changes of pace and flight to restrict Kohli’s scoring options. Kohli, in turn, will aim to rotate the strike and wait for opportunities rather than take unnecessary risks.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI Prediction

India’s recent batting performance and the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli give the visitors considerable experience at the top of the order. New Zealand, however, have the advantage of familiar surroundings, a strong record against India at Eden Park and a proven match-winner in Daryl Mitchell.

The pitch and venue statistics suggest that the toss could be important, particularly if the team batting second can use the short boundaries during a chase. India may hold a slight edge if their top order gets established, but New Zealand’s home advantage makes this a closely balanced contest. The first ODI prediction, therefore, is for a competitive match likely to be decided by the middle-overs battle between India’s spin attack and New Zealand’s experienced batters.

Where to Watch India vs New Zealand 1st ODI

Viewers in India can watch the match live on the Sony Sports Network. Online streaming will be available through the SonyLIV app and website.

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