4 November 2026 (Navroze Bureau) India won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the opening ODI of the five-match series at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Indian captain Shubman Gill decided to put the hosts in to bat, citing the overcast weather conditions and the possibility of rain interruptions.
The toss was delayed by around 20 minutes due to a passing shower at the venue. With cloudy conditions expected, Gill felt that bowling first would give India an opportunity to take advantage of the conditions and restrict New Zealand to a manageable total.
Speaking at the toss, Gill said that the team was looking forward to the series and had prepared well for the opening encounter. He also highlighted that the conditions in New Zealand would provide valuable preparation for India’s upcoming assignments in South Africa.
India have entered the opening match with a pace-heavy bowling combination, featuring four specialist fast bowlers. Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar have been included in the playing XI, while Axar Patel and Naman Dhir provide additional options.
One of the biggest talking points surrounding India’s team selection was the absence of left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Despite being part of the available squad, Kuldeep did not find a place in the final XI. Mohammed Siraj was also left out as India preferred a combination featuring four fast bowlers.
The batting department will be led by Shubman Gill, with experienced campaigners Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli providing considerable strength at the top of the order. Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul and Naman Dhir will also play important roles in the middle order.
Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has been included in the playing XI, giving India additional experience and stability in the batting department.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, meanwhile, will be hoping his team can make the most of batting first. The hosts have selected a competitive playing XI featuring experienced players such as Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Henry Nicholls.
New Zealand have also made a change to their opening combination. Tim Seifert has been included after regular opener Devon Conway was ruled out of the first ODI due to concussion following a training-ground collision with teammate Matt Henry. Both Conway and Henry suffered injuries during the incident, with their availability for the remaining matches to be assessed.
The New Zealand batting lineup will depend heavily on its experienced middle-order players. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips are capable of accelerating the scoring rate, while Tom Latham’s experience will be important in building partnerships.
India Playing XI: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand Playing XI: Tim Seifert, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (Wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (Captain), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy and Blair Tickner.
The five-match ODI series is an important opportunity for both teams to strengthen their preparations ahead of the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. India will be particularly keen to build consistency in overseas conditions and assess its bowling combinations against a competitive New Zealand side.
India entered the ODI series after winning the preceding five-match T20I series 3-2. The visitors will now look to carry that winning momentum into the 50-over format.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will be determined to make the most of home conditions. Playing at Eden Park gives the hosts an opportunity to use their familiarity with the surface and local weather to put pressure on the Indian team.
The Indian team also features two of its biggest batting stars, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Their presence adds considerable experience to the lineup, and fans will be eager to see the experienced duo perform during the tour.
With Gill choosing to bowl first, India’s fast bowlers will have the responsibility of making early breakthroughs and preventing New Zealand from building a big opening partnership.
The opening ODI promises an interesting contest between India’s pace attack and New Zealand’s experienced batting lineup. Both teams will be looking to start the series on a positive note, with the result potentially setting the tone for the remaining matches.