India Begins ODI Series Against New Zealand in Auckland

India vs New Zealand: Series Opener in Auckland

In the first match of the five-match ODI series held in Auckland, Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl first against New Zealand. This series is crucial as it marks India's preparation for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup, with notable players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to the 50-over format.

India aims to improve its recent ODI performance in New Zealand, where their last win dates back to February 2019. Since then, they have faced two ODI series in New Zealand, suffering defeats of 3-0 and 1-0, with two matches being washed out during the latter series. The Indian team has struggled for consistency in ODIs since clinching the Champions Trophy in early 2025, winning three and losing three of their last six series, including losses to Australia, New Zealand, and England. In their previous ODI series against New Zealand, the latter emerged victorious with a 2-1 win.

Toss and Team Reactions

Gill expressed, "We are going to bowl first. The weather is a bit overcast, so having a target is beneficial. Everyone is excited and ready for the series. The conditions here will be similar to those we expect in South Africa. Our pace attack includes Anshul, Aaqib, Gurnoor, and Arshdeep."

New Zealand's captain, Mitchell Santner, mentioned, "Conway is doing well but will rest today, giving Seifert an opportunity. Like India, we also have four pacers in our lineup."

Playing XIs

Teams: New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner(c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner. India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.