India vs. New Zealand is the first match of the five-match ODI series on India’s 2026-27 tour of New Zealand. It is played today, Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Eden Park in Auckland. The series follows a thrilling T20I series that India won 3-2, and the big story is the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the India ODI side. Shubman Gill captains India for the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer taking over for the last two. New Zealand are led by Mitchell Santner and beat India 2-1 in the ODI series in India in January 2026, so the home side will be confident. India also beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup final in March 2026, so the rivalry has plenty of history.
India Tour of New Zealand 2026 – 1st ODI Match Details
Event: India tour of New Zealand 2026-27
Match: New Zealand vs. India, 1st ODI (IND vs NZ)
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM NZDT / 7:30 AM IST / 7:00 AM PKT / 2:00 AM GMT
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Match Type: Day/Night, 50 overs per side
Captains: Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Shubman Gill (India)
Series: First of five ODIs
ODI Series Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | November 4 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2nd ODI | November 7 | HNRY Stadium, Wellington |
| 3rd ODI | November 10 | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| 4th and 5th ODI | Up to November 15 | Hamilton and Bay Oval, Tauranga |
All five ODIs start at 3:00 PM local time, which is 7:30 AM IST.
Live Streaming Info – IND vs NZ Free Online
| Region | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India (TV) | Sony Sports Network | Live telecast with regional commentary feeds |
| India (Streaming) | Sony LIV | Online streaming from 7:30 AM IST |
I could not confirm the official broadcasters for Pakistan, New Zealand or other countries, so please check your local sports channel or app. Ball-by-ball live scores are available on ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, Sofascore and BCCI.tv. If you are traveling outside your home country, use a VPN (e.g. NordVPN or Norton VPN) to connect to your home country’s server and access your local broadcaster.
Why This Match Matters
Rohit and Kohli are back: Both legends return to the India ODI side. Kohli arrives after an unbeaten 139 against the West Indies, his 55th ODI hundred, and Rohit scored 225 runs in the same series.
Revenge for January: New Zealand beat India 2-1 in the ODI series in India in January 2026, including a 337/8 vs 296 win in the last match. India want to settle that score on the Black Caps’ home ground.
World Cup preparation: This is India’s first five-match ODI series since the 2018-19 Australia tour of India, and it is part of the build-up to the next ODI World Cup.
India’s split squad: Some India players will leave early to prepare with the red ball for the Wellington Test on November 19, so the squad changes during the series.
Missing stars: Jasprit Bumrah is rested, which makes India’s bowling thinner. New Zealand are without Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman, both ruled out through injury.
Betting Odds & Prediction
I could not find reliable betting odds, so none are listed here. Predictions are close:
- One model gives it as too close to call at 51% to 49%.
- Some previews pick India to win because of their batting depth and form.
- Others pick New Zealand for their momentum and home advantage.
Smart Pick: Expect a high-scoring match. Eden Park has very short boundaries, so a total of 280 or more is a realistic target.
Pitch & Weather Update
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Pitch: A flat batting pitch with one of the smallest boundaries in the world, so even top edges can fly for six. The average first-innings score in ODIs here is around 245 (222 in recent matches), and chasing sides have won more often (42 wins to 33).
Weather: Check the Auckland forecast before the match, because rain can interrupt play in New Zealand in November.
Current Form: India
India arrive in great form after winning the T20I series 3-2 in New Zealand and beating the West Indies 3-0 in the ODI series.
- T20I series in New Zealand: India won 3-2
- ODI series vs West Indies: India won 3-0
- Jan 2026 ODI series in India: New Zealand won 2-1
- T20 World Cup final (March 2026): India beat New Zealand by 96 runs (255/5 vs 159)
In the last year, Virat Kohli has 854 ODI runs, Shubman Gill 657 and Rohit Sharma 607. Gill is the No. 1 ranked ODI batter and has scored 442 runs in his last five matches.
India ODI Squad (key names): Shubman Gill (Captain, first three ODIs), Shreyas Iyer (Captain, last two ODIs), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Auqib Nabi
Current Form: New Zealand
New Zealand have good momentum at home and a strong record against India in recent ODIs.
- Jan 2026 ODI series vs India: New Zealand won 2-1
- 1st ODI (Jan 11): India won by a close margin (306/6 vs 300/8)
- 2nd ODI (Jan 14): New Zealand won (286/3 vs 284/7)
- 3rd ODI (Jan 18): New Zealand won (337/8 vs 296)
- T20I series vs India: Lost 3-2
Daryl Mitchell is ranked second among ODI batters and made 389 runs in five games.
New Zealand Probable XI (not confirmed): Will Young, Tim Seifert or Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy
Head-to-Head Summary (ODIs)
| Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 123 |
| India Wins | 63 |
| New Zealand Wins | 52 |
| Tied | 1 |
| No Result | 7 |
| First Match | June 14, 1975 (New Zealand won) |
| Most Recent Match | January 18, 2026 (New Zealand won) |
Different websites list slightly different head-to-head totals, so I used the full ODI record of 123 matches. India lead overall, but New Zealand have won the most recent series.
Probable Playing XI (Not Confirmed)
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir or Nitish Kumar Reddy, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand: Will Young, Tim Seifert or Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy
Team news and the toss were not confirmed when I collected this data, so check the official playing XIs before publishing.
Team Analysis: India
Strengths
- The batting line-up is the best in the series, with Rohit, Gill and Kohli at the top
- Gill is the world’s No. 1 ranked ODI batter
- Kohli’s unbeaten 139 against the West Indies shows he is in top form
- Won the T20I series in New Zealand, so confidence is high
- Siraj and Arshdeep lead a bowling attack that can swing the ball under lights
Weaknesses
- Bumrah is rested, so the bowling is thinner
- Eden Park’s short boundaries make it hard for any bowling attack
- Lost the January 2026 ODI series 2-1 to this same New Zealand side
- Split squad and captain change mid-series
Key Players
- Shubman Gill (Captain, Opener): No. 1 ODI batter and the leader of the team for the first three ODIs.
- Virat Kohli (Batter): 55 ODI hundreds, and a master chaser who thrives on big stages.
- Rohit Sharma (Opener): A powerful starter who can punish a short boundary like Eden Park’s.
- Shreyas Iyer (Batter): A middle-order batter who captains India in the last two ODIs.
- Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh (Fast Bowlers): Lead the attack in Bumrah’s absence.
Team Analysis: New Zealand
Strengths
- Home advantage and a recent 2-1 win over India in ODIs
- Daryl Mitchell is one of the best ODI batters in the world
- Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy form a strong new-ball partnership that can trouble India if there is any help from the pitch
- Santner and Bracewell give them quality spin control
- Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips add experience and power in the middle order
Weaknesses
- Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman are ruled out through injury
- Lost the T20I series 3-2 and the T20 World Cup final to India
- Bowling can be expensive on a ground with such short boundaries
Key Players
- Daryl Mitchell (Batter): Second-ranked ODI batter and New Zealand’s most important run-scorer.
- Mitchell Santner (Captain, Spinner): Leads the team and controls the middle overs.
- Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy (Fast Bowlers): New Zealand’s best hope of early wickets against Rohit and Gill.
- Glenn Phillips (All-rounder): A big hitter and brilliant fielder.
- Tom Latham (Wicketkeeper-Batter): An experienced left-hander who anchors the innings.
Key Tactical Matchup
The key battle is Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill vs Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy with the new ball. If New Zealand’s pacers get early wickets, India’s middle order will be under pressure. If Rohit and Gill survive the first 10 overs, a short boundary like Eden Park’s can produce a very big score quickly.
The second battle is Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell in the middle overs. Kohli is a master at rotating strike against spin, and his partnership with Iyer or Rahul could decide the match.
Finally, the toss matters. Eden Park favours chasing sides, and a day/night match could make batting second easier under lights.
FAQs
When is India vs New Zealand 1st ODI?
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM NZDT. That is 7:30 AM IST and 7:00 AM PKT.
Where is the match being played?
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand.
Who captains India?
Shubman Gill for the first three ODIs, then Shreyas Iyer for the last two.
Who captains New Zealand?
Mitchell Santner.
Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing?
Yes. Both return to the India ODI squad for this series.
Is Jasprit Bumrah playing?
No. He is rested, and India’s bowling is led by Siraj and Arshdeep.
How many ODIs are in the series?
Five, from November 4 in Auckland to the last match on November 15 in Tauranga.
What is the head-to-head record in ODIs?
India lead 63-52 in 123 matches, with 1 tie and 7 no results.
Where can I watch it in India?
Sony Sports Network on TV and Sony LIV online, from 7:30 AM IST.
Who won the last India vs New Zealand ODI series?
New Zealand won 2-1 in India in January 2026.