After a rare 22-day break from international cricket, Team India finally return to action with the opening ODI against New Zealand on Sunday. The match also marks the beginning of India’s 2026 campaign, with Shubman Gill back as captain and opening alongside Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli returns to the format he dominates, while Shreyas Iyer is set for his comeback after recovering from injury.
New Zealand, however, arrive with a heavily inexperienced squad. Eight of their 15 players have never played an ODI in India, and several of their frontline names are missing due to injury, workload management or personal commitments. On paper, India head into the contest as overwhelming favourites despite copping an injury blow to a star player.
IND vs NZ, 1st ODI: Match Details
- Match: India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI
- Date: January 11, 2026 (Sunday)
- Time: 1:30 PM IST
- Venue: VCA Stadium, Vadodara
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar (App & Website)
- Broadcast: Star Sports Network
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Record (ODIs)
India hold a dominant recent record against the Kiwis.
- Last 7 ODIs: India won all 7
- Last ODI defeat vs NZ: 2023
- At home vs NZ since 2017: India won 7 consecutive matches
Pitch Report: VCA Stadium, Vadodara
- Batting Paradise: The surface is expected to be flat and true, ideal for high-scoring contests. It is the first-ever men’s international match here at the Kotambi Stadium.
- Chasing Factor: Evening dew could once again make chasing easier.
- Fast Bowlers Under Lights: India’s pacers extracted movement in recent women’s ODIs at the venue. So, the men’s team can be able to do the same in the 2nd innings.
India Probable Playing XI
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand Probable Playing XI
Devon Conway (wk), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Josh Clarkson, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Aditya Ashok, Michael Rae
Match Prediction: Who will win IND vs NZ 1st ODI?
Prediction: India to win
India are overwhelming favourites. Their home record, superior experience, and depth across all departments give them a massive edge. New Zealand’s young bowling attack will face its sternest test against Rohit, Kohli and Gill on a batting-friendly pitch. India mauled a strong South African unit and this Kiwi team isn’t the best. Former India superstar Ravichandran Ashwin has also said that he would consider a series win for New Zealand if they even win a single ODI in this series. That just tells you about how favourites India actually are.
Win Probability: India 80% – New Zealand 20%
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