India will face New Zealand in the first ODI of the five-match series on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The match will take place at Eden Park in Auckland, with play starting at 7:30 AM IST.
Shubman Gill will lead India, while Mitchell Santner will captain New Zealand. India enter the series after winning the T20I series 3-2. However, New Zealand will look to use home conditions to their advantage.
India have a strong batting line up, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Gill in the top order. But their pace attack has some concerns after Jasprit Bumrah was rested and Prasidh Krishna was ruled out.
New Zealand also have injury concerns. Devon Conway has been ruled out of the first ODI after a training ground collision. Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman are also unavailable.
IND vs NZ 1st ODI Match Details
- Match: New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI
- Series: India Tour Of New Zealand 2026
- Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
- Time: 7:30 AM IST
- Toss: 7:00 AM IST
- Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
- India Captain: Shubman Gill
- New Zealand Captain: Mitchell Santner
Eden Park Pitch Report
Eden Park is known for its short boundaries and fast outfield. Batters can score quickly once they settle at the crease.
However, the new ball can help fast bowlers. The surface can offer pace and bounce, especially during the first few overs.
The average first innings score at this ground is around 222 runs across its full ODI record. Recent matches have produced higher totals, so batters should not take that older average as the expected score.
Fast bowlers have taken most of the wickets at this venue. This makes Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson important players to watch.
The ground also has a strong record for chasing teams. Sides batting second have won 47 matches, while teams batting first have won 34, according to the available venue figures.
Expected First Innings Score: 250 to 280 runs.
A score above 280 could put pressure on the chasing team. However, the short boundaries mean no total will be completely safe.
IND vs NZ 1st ODI Predicted Playing XIs
These are our predicted XIs based on the announced squads, recent team news and likely player roles. The teams will confirm their final XIs at the toss.
India Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand Predicted XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson.
Team News: Devon Conway will miss the first ODI after suffering a concussion during a training collision with Matt Henry. Henry’s availability is also under watch. Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman are unavailable due to injuries. Tim Seifert is expected to get an opportunity at the top of the order.
India have several options for the final bowling spots. Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi are also part of the squad. The final combination will depend on the pitch and team selection.
IND vs NZ 1st ODI Captain and Vice-Captain Choices
Captain: Shubman Gill
Gill is our first captain choice for this match. He has been India’s most consistent ODI batter in 2026.
He has scored 895 runs in 12 matches this year, with an average of 111.88. His highest score is 223 not out.
Gill also scored 223 against West Indies in September. His recent numbers make him a strong captain choice for this match.
Vice Captain: Virat Kohli
Kohli is our vice-captain choice. He has scored 552 runs in eight ODIs in 2026, at an average of 78.86.
He also has a strong record against New Zealand. Kohli scored 93 and 124 in two of the three ODIs against them in January 2026.
His experience and ability to build a long innings make him a reliable choice.
Alternative Choice: Rohit Sharma
Rohit is another strong option for this match. He has scored 461 runs in nine ODIs this year, at an average of 51.22.
He has also hit 20 sixes in those matches. Eden Park’s short boundaries could suit his attacking style.
IND vs NZ 1st ODI Toss Prediction
Toss Prediction: New Zealand To Win The Toss
Expected Decision: Bowl First
We expect New Zealand to bowl first if Mitchell Santner wins the toss.
Eden Park has seen more wins for teams chasing. The short boundaries also give the chasing side a chance to stay in the game.
New Zealand may also want their fast bowlers to use the early movement. Matt Henry’s fitness remains a key factor, but Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson can still make the most of the new ball.
India could also prefer to chase. Their top order has enough experience to handle a target.
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IND vs NZ 1st ODI Winner Prediction
Our Prediction: India To Win The 1st ODI
India have a slight edge going into this match. Their top order gives them more batting strength and experience.
Gill is in excellent ODI form. Kohli and Rohit also bring strong recent numbers into the series.
New Zealand will be dangerous at home. Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Will Young can put pressure on India’s bowlers.
The biggest concern for India is their pace attack. Bumrah is rested, while Prasidh Krishna is unavailable. This gives New Zealand a chance to target the Indian bowlers.
However, India’s batting depth could make the difference. If Rohit and Gill provide a good start, Kohli and the middle order can take the game forward.
New Zealand’s injury problems also make the contest harder for the hosts.
Final Call: India To Win
Toss Prediction: New Zealand
Toss Decision: Bowl First
Match Winner: India
Captain: Shubman Gill
Vice Captain: Virat Kohli
Alternative Captain Choice: Rohit Sharma
Prediction Disclaimer: These are pre-match predictions based on available team news, player form and venue records. Final playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
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Aviral is a sports journalist. He has previously worked with established sports and media organisations, including The Sunday Guardian, Cricket Times, FFO Sports Publishing and Zee Media.
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