NZ vs IND 1st ODI Match Prediction: Who Will Win Today?

The white-ball rivalry between New Zealand and India rolls on at Eden Park, as the two sides switch formats for the first ODI of a five-match series on Wednesday, November 4. India arrive in Auckland as T20I series winners, having edged a thrilling five-match contest 3-2, but the 50-over format is a different beast — and recent history in this fixture favours the hosts. New Zealand beat India 2-1 in the last ODI series between the sides, played in India in January 2026, and India have not won an ODI on New Zealand soil since February 2019.

This opener is also the start of a long road to the 2027 ODI World Cup for both teams. For India, it is a first look at a new-look ODI side under Shubman Gill, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to the XI after a break. For New Zealand, it is a chance to underline their home dominance in the format, even without three injured first-choice players. Here is our complete NZ vs IND 1st ODI match prediction, with team news, pitch report, probable XIs and our pick.

NZ vs IND 1st ODI Match Details and Timings

Match	New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI
Series	India tour of New Zealand, five-match ODI series
Date	Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Venue	Eden Park, Auckland
Start time	7:30 AM IST (3:00 PM local time, Auckland)
Toss	7:00 AM IST
TV broadcast (India)	Sony Sports Network
Live streaming (India)	SonyLIV app and website
Captains	Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Shubman Gill (India)

New Zealand Team Preview: Injuries Test the Hosts’ ODI Depth

Mitchell Santner continues to lead New Zealand, and the Black Caps come into this series with solid 50-over form — their last ODI assignment was a 3-2 series win in the West Indies in July 2026. But the hosts have been hit by a double injury blow: Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman were both ruled out of the series on November 2, with Tim Seifert and Henry Nicholls drafted in as replacements. Nicholls will play the first three ODIs before Dean Foxcroft takes his place for the final two.

There is also a late injury blow: Devon Conway was ruled out of the opener after suffering a concussion in a training-ground collision with Matt Henry at Eden Park on Tuesday, and captain Mitchell Santner confirmed Tim Seifert will take Conway’s place. Henry himself cleared his concussion tests and remains in contention, though New Zealand Cricket says his condition continues to be monitored. The batting, though, looks formidable. Glenn Phillips was the player of the T20I series with a record 341 runs, including a stunning 107 off 49 balls at this very ground on October 30, when New Zealand posted 259/7 — their highest T20I total anywhere. Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Tim Seifert and Will Young give the top order a settled, experienced look, and Michael Bracewell’s all-round value only grows in the longer white-ball format.

India Team Preview: Rohit and Kohli Return as Gill Leads the ODI Side

India’s ODI rebuild starts here. Shubman Gill, the world’s No. 1-ranked ODI batter, captains the side for the first three matches, with Shreyas Iyer taking over for the final two games in Mount Maunganui. The headline news is the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who will feature in all five matches after missing the T20I leg, while Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the away series.

The bowling attack has a fresh look. Prasidh Krishna was ruled out injured and replaced by Auqib Nabi for the first three ODIs, while Mohammed Siraj’s availability for the opener was in question after he played the second four-day game for India A in Wellington, which ended on November 3. Nitish Kumar Reddy is available only for this first ODI before linking up with the red-ball squad ahead of the Test series starting November 19. Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin could be a key weapon on a ground with short straight boundaries, where control through the middle overs decides games.

India’s last ODI series ended in a 2-1 home win over the West Indies, but the away record in this fixture is a concern: no ODI win in New Zealand since February 2019, and a 2-1 series defeat at home to these opponents in January 2026. Ending that drought is the challenge Gill’s side faces in Auckland.

Eden Park Pitch Report and ODI Records

Eden Park is a rugby stadium first and a cricket ground second, and the dimensions show it. The straight boundaries are famously short, which is why six-hitting down the ground comes so easily here, and why bowlers tend to attack square of the wicket. The surface is a drop-in pitch that generally flattens out as the game goes on, favouring batters under lights.

The numbers back up the batting-friendly reputation: ODI first innings at Eden Park have averaged 285.8 since 2019, and New Zealand’s 259/7 here on October 30 was the highest T20I total the ground has ever seen. Chasing sides have historically done well at this venue, and captains winning the toss usually choose to bowl first. Expect a high-scoring game if the top orders get set — a first-innings total around 300 will be par, and anything below 280 could leave the side batting first short.

NZ vs IND Head to Head and Recent Form in ODIs

New Zealand hold the recent bragging rights in this fixture. They won the last ODI series between the sides 2-1 in India in January 2026, and India have not beaten New Zealand in an ODI on New Zealand soil since February 2019. In the format’s longer history the two sides have traded blows, but home advantage has been a decisive factor in this rivalry.

Current form points both ways. India won the T20I series that has just finished, 3-2, and their batting depth in white-ball cricket is obvious. New Zealand, though, are a different proposition in ODIs at home, where their pace attack and disciplined middle-overs bowling have troubled every visiting side. The hosts also carry the confidence of the 3-2 ODI series win in the Caribbean in July.

NZ vs IND 1st ODI Probable Playing XIs

India probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar. Shreyas Iyer could come in for Gaikwad if the team management prefers experience at No. 4, while Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj are the other seam options.

New Zealand probable XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy. Henry cleared his concussion tests and is in contention, with Tickner or Fisher as cover if he is not cleared.

Key Battles That Will Decide the Auckland ODI

Shubman Gill vs Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry: New Zealand’s new-ball pair will test Gill’s driving game early on a surface that offers some seam movement before flattening out. If Gill survives the first ten overs, India can build a big total.

Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Santner: Kohli’s return to the middle order is the story of the series, and Santner’s left-arm spin through the middle overs is New Zealand’s control mechanism. Kohli’s record against spin in ODIs makes this a fascinating duel.

Glenn Phillips vs Kuldeep Yadav: Phillips is in the form of his life after his T20I series heroics, including that 107 at Eden Park. Kuldeep’s variations are India’s best answer to a batter who attacks spin relentlessly — this battle could swing the middle overs.

Rohit Sharma vs Kyle Jamieson: Rohit’s pull game against Jamieson’s bounce is a classic Eden Park contest on a ground where the short boundaries punish anything short and wide.

NZ vs IND 1st ODI Match Prediction: Who Will Win?

This is a genuinely tight opener, but the weight of recent ODI history tips it towards the hosts. New Zealand won the last ODI series between these sides, they are a strong ODI team at home, and India have not won a 50-over game in New Zealand since February 2019. Eden Park’s short boundaries and chasing-friendly record also suit a New Zealand side packed with power-hitters in Phillips, Mitchell and Bracewell.

India’s case is real: the T20I series win, the return of Rohit and Kohli, and a batting line-up that can post 300 anywhere. But a new-look ODI attack without Bumrah, a captain still settling into the 50-over leadership role, and the Siraj fitness question make the visitors slight underdogs for this first game.

Our prediction: New Zealand to win the 1st ODI at Eden Park. Expect a high-scoring game, with the chasing side favoured — so the toss could be crucial. If India bat first and post 320-plus, they can absolutely defend it, but on balance the hosts’ home ODI record and current form in the format give them the edge in the series opener. The series itself remains wide open, with India well placed to hit back in Wellington on November 7.

For context on how this tour has unfolded so far, read our NZ vs IND 5th T20I result report, where Seifert’s 93 sealed a consolation win for the hosts as India took the T20I series 3-2, and the NZ vs IND 4th T20I result, when New Zealand’s record 259/7 at Eden Park denied India a whitewash. The IND vs NZ 3rd T20I result remains the tour’s standout batting display, with Abhishek Sharma’s 113 off 38 balls sealing the series.

NZ vs IND 1st ODI FAQs

When is the NZ vs IND 1st ODI?

Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Eden Park, Auckland, starting at 7:30 AM IST (3:00 PM local time).

Where can I watch NZ vs IND 1st ODI live in India?

The match will be telecast on Sony Sports Network channels and live-streamed on the SonyLIV app and website in India.

Who is captaining India in the 1st ODI?

Shubman Gill captains India for the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer taking over for the final two matches of the series.

Why are Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman missing?

Both were ruled out of the ODI series through injury on November 2, and were replaced in the New Zealand squad by Tim Seifert and Henry Nicholls.

Why is Devon Conway missing from the 1st ODI?

Conway suffered a concussion in a training-ground collision with Matt Henry at Eden Park on Tuesday, and New Zealand Cricket ruled him out of the Auckland opener. Tim Seifert takes his place, while Henry cleared his concussion tests and remains in contention.

What is India’s ODI record in New Zealand?

India have not won an ODI in New Zealand since February 2019, and lost the last ODI series between the sides 2-1 at home in January 2026.