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New Zealand tour of India 2026

India vs New Zealand Prediction & Match Preview – 1st ODI, Vadodara

Our verdict

India

India have in-form top-order batters and a strong spin and pace group at home, with Kohli, Rohit and Kuldeep all carrying good numbers against New Zealand.

Toss pick: New Zealand

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma are expected to open for India. Jaiswal arrives in fine touch after an unbeaten century in his previous ODI and has 171 runs from four matches. Rohit scored 136 in three ODIs against South Africa with two half-centuries, then hit 156 in the opening match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and has 487 runs in his last 10 ODIs at 54.11. Virat Kohli is set for number three after two centuries and a fifty in the last ODI series, plus back-to-back hundreds in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Shubman Gill returns as captain and has 623 runs in 12 matches against New Zealand. Shreyas Iyer is expected back in the XI because of an injury to Tilak Varma, and KL Rahul, who has 328 runs from eight games against the Kiwis, should finish at six. Mohammed Siraj returns to lead the pace attack alongside Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav, with 24 wickets in 13 ODIs against New Zealand, heads the spin department.

For New Zealand, Devon Conway is expected to open with Henry Nicholls, and Will Young is likely at three. Daryl Mitchell is the key man after 497 runs in his last eight ODIs at 82.83, and he has 586 runs in India at 53.27. Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips add depth, while Kyle Jamieson, Zak Foulkes and Michael Rae form the pace group, with Foulkes taking nine wickets in his last five games at an economy of 4.5.

Probable XIs

India

  1. Shubman Gill (c)
  2. Rohit Sharma
  3. Virat Kohli
  4. KL Rahul (wk)
  5. Shreyas Iyer
  6. Ravindra Jadeja
  7. Nitish Kumar Reddy
  8. Harshit Rana
  9. Kuldeep Yadav
  10. Mohammed Siraj
  11. Arshdeep Singh

New Zealand

  1. Devon Conway (wk)
  2. Will Young
  3. Henry Nicholls
  4. Daryl Mitchell
  5. Glenn Phillips
  6. Michael Bracewell (c)
  7. Josh Clarkson
  8. Kristian Clarke
  9. Kyle Jamieson
  10. Aditya Ashok
  11. Michael Rae

Pitch report

The BCA Stadium in Kotambi usually offers a well-balanced surface. It plays true early with good pace and bounce, so batters can play their shots, especially in the powerplay. It slows a little as the game goes on, bringing spinners into the match and making stroke-making harder in the middle overs. In evening games dew can help the ball skid on and often favours chasing sides, but this is an afternoon start. Disciplined bowling and smart batting are both rewarded.

Weather

Warm, dry conditions are expected around the 1:30 pm local start, with mostly clear skies and plenty of sunshine. Temperatures should be about 27–29°C, with little chance of rain, light winds and moderate humidity, so uninterrupted play is likely.

Frequently asked questions

Who is expected to win India vs New Zealand in the 1st ODI?

Our preview favours India, who have strong form from their top order and a settled bowling group.

Who captains the sides?

Shubman Gill returns as India captain, and Michael Bracewell is listed as captain in New Zealand’s likely XI.

What is a good score in Vadodara?

Our expected first-innings range is 280–310. A total below 280 may be risky, while 300 or more would put serious pressure on the chasing side.

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