Team India’s campaign for 2026 gets underway with a home assignment, with Shubman Gill and Co hosting New Zealand for a white-ball tour to kick off the year.
Three ODIs are scheduled for the Kiwi visit before the action moves to T20Is. With the T20 World Cup coming up, the focus for most teams is set to be on the shortest format of the game, though the imminent ODI series will see two of India’s stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, return to the spotlight.
For the first ODI between India and New Zealand, here we present our preview and predictions.
Returning from his injury suffered during South Africa’s visit, Shubman Gill is set to lead the Men in Blue. He will be joined at the top of the batting order by former Indian captain Rohit Sharma. With a batting line-up also boasting Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, the hosts have plenty of experience, firepower, and depth in the batting unit. Iyer, who was injured during India’s tour of Australia, has also been cleared by the BCCI and will be key at No. 4, a spot he has made his own since 2020.
With no Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are the all-round options alongside the veteran Ravindra Jadeja. The bowling department is a bit on the weaker side in terms of experience, as India have rested Jasprit Bumrah for the ODIs. This means Mohammed Siraj returns to lead a young and inexperienced line-up comprising Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna. Kuldeep Yadav remains the lead spinner, with Sundar and Jadeja being the other spin options.
In the New Zealand camp, with Mitchell Santner out injured for the ODI series, Michael Bracewell will be captaining the team. The Kiwis are fielding a relatively young and inexperienced side here, with Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips being the experienced operators and making up a commendable batting unit with decent Subcontinent exposure.
While their batting may hold up, the visitors come in with a particularly inexperienced bowling unit. Apart from Kyle Jamieson, the likes of Michael Rae, Jayden Lennox, and Kristian Clarke are yet to debut in ODIs, while leg-break bowler Adithya Ashok has a total of two ODIs under his belt. Bracewell himself will need to step up with the ball, while the likes of Phillips and Mitchell will be crucial in slow conditions. The youngsters, meanwhile, have a chance to impress in tough conditions.
The Kotambi ground is yet to host an international men’s game. In the women’s internationals and domestic games played here, the strip has brought about plenty of runs while supporting the slower bowlers.
India’s experienced squad gives them a big edge; expect Gill and Co to start the series with a win in Vadodara.
Fantasy XI: Rohit Sharma, Devon Conway, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Glenn Philips, Daryl Mitchell, KL Rahul (wk), Michael Bracewell, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kyle Jamieson
Venue: Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
Winners Prediction: India
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