India vs New Zealand Prediction & Match Preview – 3rd ODI, Indore

Holkar Cricket Stadium

India and New Zealand meet at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore for the 3rd ODI of New Zealand’s tour of India. The first two matches have delivered what spectators hoped for: big scores, dramatic swings in momentum and memorable individual performances. New Zealand’s middle order has shown real resilience, while India’s top order has continued to set the pace and control the game.

The focus now turns to India’s bowling. The hosts struggled to defend a competitive total in the previous match, prompting discussion about adding a left-arm pace option and adjusting the spin attack to find the right balance. Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana feature in our likely XI.

New Zealand look settled and confident, with a deep batting line-up, strong all-round options and sharp fielding that give them an edge in tight moments. Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips are among those expected to feature, with Michael Bracewell as captain.

At one of India’s most batter-friendly grounds, experience and composure at the top of the order will be crucial for both teams. Our preview expects another high-scoring contest and picks India to edge it.

Probable playing XI

India

Shubman Gill (c)
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (wk)
Ravindra Jadeja
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Harshit Rana
Kuldeep Yadav
Mohammed Siraj
Prasidh Krishna

New Zealand

Devon Conway
Henry Nicholls
Will Young
Daryl Mitchell
Glenn Phillips
Mitchell Hay (wk)
Michael Bracewell (c)
Zakary Foulkes
Kristian Clarke
Kyle Jamieson
Adithya Ashok

Pitch report

The Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore is widely regarded as a batting-friendly surface that supports high-scoring one-day cricket. It is typically a flat track with even bounce and little lateral movement. The outfield is quick and the square boundaries are on the shorter side, which encourages aggressive strokeplay. Spinners may find some help as the game progresses, but batters usually dominate. Sides batting first look to post a competitive total, while chasers benefit from true bounce later on.

Weather

Warm and pleasant conditions are expected for the 1:30 pm local start, with temperatures of around 26–28 °C. Skies should be mostly sunny to partly cloudy, and there is little to no chance of rain, as January is typically dry in this region.

Expected scores

1st innings: 280–310
2nd innings: 270–300

Frequently asked questions

Where is the 3rd ODI between India and New Zealand?

It is at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, 18 January 2026.

What has the series been like so far?

The first two matches have produced big scores, momentum swings and standout individual performances, with India’s top order setting the pace.

What score should be aimed for batting first?

Teams generally aim for more than 280 at Indore, and our preview expects a first-innings range of 280 to 310.