India vs New Zealand Prediction & Match Preview – 3rd ODI, Indore
Match summary
Our preview of the 3rd ODI between India and New Zealand at Holkar Stadium, Indore: series context, likely XIs, pitch, weather and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI |
|---|---|
| Series | New Zealand tour of India 2026 |
| Date | 18 Jan 2026 |
| Start time | 8:00 am GMT / 1:30 pm local |
| Venue | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | India |
| Toss pick | New Zealand |
Matches in this series
Match preview
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.
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.
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
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 280–310 | – |
| Second innings | 270–300 | – |
India
India’s top order has set the pace in the series and Indore is among their most batter-friendly grounds.
Toss pick: New Zealand
FAQ
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.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
India
- Shubman Gillc
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahulwk
- 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 Haywk
- Michael Bracewellc
- Zakary Foulkes
- Kristian Clarke
- Kyle Jamieson
- Adithya Ashok
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of India and New Zealand that we covered.