India and New Zealand are ready to face each other in the 1st match of the New Zealand tour of India 2026 at Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara, on Sunday, January 11. This match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM IST. Stay tuned with our IND vs NZ prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
India had a very strong ODI year in 2025, winning most of their matches and lifting the Champions Trophy under Rohit Sharma. They also won a home series against South Africa, though they did face a few setbacks during their Australia tour. Virat Kohli has returned to good form and Rohit Sharma has also looked solid with the bat. With both senior players back and captain Shubman Gill returning from injury, India will feel confident going into this home series.
On the other hand, New Zealand have been in great form recently. They came off a clean sweep against West Indies in all three formats – winning the ODI series 3-0, the T20I series 3-1 and the Test series 2-0 at home. This gives them confidence heading into this challenging India tour. However, New Zealand will be without some key players like Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner. Michael Bracewell will captain the ODI side, making his first series as captain a tough one.
Head-to-Head Record: Till now, India and New Zealand have played 120 ODI matches against each other. India has won 62 matches, while New Zealand has won 50 matches. One match was tied and 5 had no result. At home, India has a strong record with 31 wins against New Zealand’s 8 wins in India. This shows India’s strong home advantage. In the last 5 ODI series between these two teams, India has won 3 and New Zealand has won 2, showing that both teams are competitive against each other.
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India Preview
India enter this series after a solid home win against South Africa. Captain Shubman Gill is back after recovering from a neck injury and will lead the side. He has done well against New Zealand in the past and has been one of India’s most reliable batters in recent times. His calm approach at the top gives India a strong start and confidence going into the series.
India’s batting looks even stronger with the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Kohli is coming off a very good series and looks back to his best, while Rohit also contributed well and adds experience to the lineup. Along with them, players like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal give India depth and balance in batting.
The bowling unit is well rounded with a mix of pace and spin. Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana will lead the fast bowling, with Arshdeep Singh offering variety as a left-arm pacer. Ravindra Jadeja brings control and experience in spin, while Kuldeep Yadav adds wicket-taking threat. With support from Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna, India look well prepared in all departments.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Over 38.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Virat Kohli is coming off an excellent recent series and looks back to his best. His experience, temperament, and current form make him India’s safest batting pick once again.
New Zealand Preview
New Zealand come into this series after a strong 3-0 ODI win against West Indies at home. However, they will miss some key players. Regular captain Mitchell Santner has been rested due to injury concerns, so Michael Bracewell will lead the team. Kane Williamson is also unavailable as he is playing in the SA20 league. This means New Zealand will be led by a less experienced captain while playing in tough Indian conditions.
At the top of the order, Devon Conway and Will Young are expected to open the batting. Conway has been in good touch and brings stability, while Young is known for giving steady starts. Daryl Mitchell will be a key player in the middle order, as he has been consistent with the bat in recent matches. Henry Nicholls and Glenn Phillips add depth, with Phillips offering value as an all-rounder.
In bowling, Kyle Jamieson will lead the pace attack, supported by Josh Clarkson and Zak Foulkes. The spin department includes some fresh faces, with Jayden Lennox set to make his ODI debut. New Zealand also have a few inexperienced players in the squad, which could be a challenge against a strong Indian side, especially with the absence of senior players and limited experience in local conditions.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | Over 28.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Devon Conway is New Zealand’s most dependable top-order batter and is in good touch. His ability to handle both pace and spin makes him a key figure against India’s bowling attack and a strong pick to cross this line.
IND vs NZ Probable Playing XI
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitch Hay (WK), Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Josh Clarkson, Jayden Lennox, Kristian Clarke.
IND vs NZ Pitch Report
The BCA Stadium in Vadodara is a new ground and has so far shown signs of being good for batting, with a smooth surface and nice bounce. The weather is expected to be clear, with pleasant conditions throughout the day and some dew likely in the evening. This could make batting easier later in the match. Fast bowlers may get a little help early, while spinners could come into play as the game goes on. Because of these conditions, teams may prefer to bowl first and chase the target.
The weather on Sunday at BCA Stadium, Vadodara is expected to be sunny, around 28°C, with 0% chance of rain, moderate 51% humidity, and gentle winds near 13 km/h.
Venue ODI Statistics
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 3 |
| Matches won batting first | 2 |
| Matches won bowling first | 1 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 278 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 171 |
| Highest total recorded | 358/5 (50 Ovs) – INDW vs WIW |
| Lowest total recorded | 103/10 (26.2 Ovs) – WIW vs INDW |
| Highest score chased | 167/5 (28.2 Ovs) – INDW vs WIW |
| Lowest score defended | 358/5 (50 Ovs) – INDW vs WIW |
IND vs NZ Winner Prediction
India will come into this match as strong favorites due to several reasons. First, they have a much better home record against New Zealand, having won 31 out of 39 matches at home. Second, they have senior players like Virat Kohli in excellent form and Rohit Sharma coming back after a break. Third, India has a balanced squad with both strong batsmen and a good bowling attack. Finally, India will have the advantage of playing at home where they understand the conditions better.
New Zealand, despite their recent success against West Indies, will find it tough in India. They are without key players like Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner. They have several inexperienced players in their squad who have not played much international cricket. Michael Bracewell leading the team for the first time as captain might also add pressure to the team.
However, New Zealand has a nine-match winning streak in ODIs, which shows they are in good form. They have some skilled players like Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips who can perform well. If their bowling performs well and they bat positively, they could surprise India.
Our Prediction: India
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