The T20I series is over, and now the story moves into a new format. India won the T20I series 3-2, but New Zealand won the last two matches and pulled the momentum towards themselves. Now it is the turn of ODI cricket, where the tempo is a little slower, but the pressure is no less at all.

The first ODI will be played on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 at Eden Park, Auckland, starting at 7:30 AM IST, with the toss at 7:00 AM IST. This preview explains the date, time, squads, captaincy, pitch, and team news in a simple way. For match updates, fans follow official sources and also companion sources such as CricBet99 for scores and news.

The biggest angle of this series is captaincy. Shubman Gill will captain India in the first three ODIs, and in Auckland a new chapter of his ODI captaincy will begin.

Match Details and the Full Schedule

• Match: India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI
• Date: Wednesday, 4 November 2026
• Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
• Start Time: 7:30 AM IST
• Toss: 7:00 AM IST
• Broadcast: Expected on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV

Eden Park has short boundaries, so the team that builds momentum in the first 10 overs will find its task easier.

The full ODI series, all starting at 7:30 AM IST: 4 November in Auckland, 7 November in Wellington, 10 November in Hamilton, 13 November in Mount Maunganui, and 15 November in Mount Maunganui.

A New Chapter in Captaincy: Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is already the Test captain, and now the ODI captaincy is also in his hands, at least for the first three matches. In Auckland, his first tasks will be the toss decision, the balance of the batting order, and the smart rotation of his bowlers.

According to reports, Gill and Rohit Sharma will open in the first three matches. Shreyas Iyer is vice-captain for the first three ODIs and will become captain for the last two ODIs because Gill will later join the Test preparations.

Squads and Team News

India's squad for the first three ODIs is Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy (first ODI only), and Auqib Nabi (in place of Prasidh Krishna, who is out with a hamstring injury).

Rohit, Kohli, and KL Rahul are part of the team for all five ODIs, and their experience is a major support for the younger players.

Mohammed Siraj will not be available for the first match, according to reports, because he is playing an unofficial Test against New Zealand A. Auqib Nabi's entry will make the bowling attack look a little different, but Arshdeep, Kuldeep, and Axar still have the ability to turn a match.

New Zealand: Santner and Injury Setbacks

New Zealand's captain is Mitchell Santner, who can change the direction of a match with his bowling as well. After winning the last two T20I matches, his team's confidence is high, especially in Auckland.

However, Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman are injured, and it was confirmed on 2 November that they are out. Both gave stability in the middle order and a left-handed option, so New Zealand will have to set their batting order again.

What Did the T20I Series Teach Us?

The T20I series finished 3-2 in India's favour, but New Zealand won the last two matches — in Auckland by 87 runs, and in Hamilton by 7 wickets. ODI cricket is a 50-over game, where patience, partnerships, and handling the run rate in the middle overs are the biggest tasks.

For India, the biggest question will be bowling: swing with the new ball, spin in the middle overs, and yorkers in the death overs — discipline is needed in all three phases. Fans follow match news on official scorecards and also on companion sources such as cribet99.

Eden Park Pitch and Key Battles

The Eden Park pitch is often batting-friendly, but morning moisture can help the fast bowlers. There should be a swing in the first 10 overs, after which batting should become easier. The toss will also be important: in overcast conditions a captain may prefer to bowl first, while on a flat pitch batting first and posting a big total is also a good plan.

Key battles: Gill and Rohit against the new-ball bowlers, Kohli against Santner, Kuldeep against New Zealand's middle order, and Arshdeep's death bowling. The battle that is won often decides the direction of the match, and fans follow news of these battles on official updates and also on companion sources such as CricBet99.

Predicted XI: What Could Happen, and What Could Not?

One Important Clarification

No confirmed playing XI has been announced yet. The XI given below is only probable and predicted, based on reports and team news. The final XI will be confirmed at the toss, at 7:00 AM IST. Do not treat this predicted XI as final.

Reports differ on Iyer and Gaikwad, so the exact middle-order places will not be clear until the toss. With Siraj unavailable for the first match, the fast-bowling combination could also change.

India's Probable XI (Predicted, Not Confirmed)

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and one fast bowler, with Anshul Kamboj or Gurnoor Brar being discussed.

This XI has long batting and a spin combination of Axar and Kuldeep. However, seeing Ishan Kishan or Gaikwad in the final XI is also possible, so waiting for the toss is the best approach.

New Zealand's Probable XI (Predicted, Not Confirmed)

New Zealand's probable XI could include Santner as captain, Tim Seifert as wicketkeeper, and in-form T20I players such as Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips. However, with Ravindra and Chapman injured, their final XI will also change, and that too will only be confirmed at the toss.

Match Outlook and Conclusion

The first ODI in Auckland looks like a balanced contest. India has more experience in Rohit, Kohli, and Rahul, while New Zealand has home conditions and the momentum of winning the last two T20I matches.

For the team batting first, a score between 270 and 290 could be competitive, but Eden Park's short boundaries mean that no total is safe until wickets are in hand right until the last over.

All eyes will be on Gill's captaincy: field placements, Kuldeep's middle-overs spell, and trust in Arshdeep in the death overs. This is not just one match but the start of a new chapter. The match will start on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, at 7:30 AM IST; the toss will be at 7:00 AM IST, and only then will the final XI be confirmed.

This match will set the tone for the ODI series, so do not miss the first ODI in Auckland, and for every update, following official sources along with companion sources such as CricBet99 is an easy way for fans to stay in touch.

FAQs

1. When and where is the IND vs NZ 1st ODI?

The first ODI is on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, at Eden Park, Auckland. The match will start at 7:30 AM IST, and the toss will be at 7:00 AM IST.

2. Who is India's captain for the 1st ODI?

Shubman Gill will captain India in the first three ODIs. Shreyas Iyer is vice-captain and will become captain for the last two ODIs.

3. Has the playing XI been confirmed?

No, no confirmed playing XI has been announced yet. The XI given in this preview is only probable and predicted. The final XI will be confirmed at the toss.

4. What is the full schedule of the India vs New Zealand ODI series?

4 November in Auckland, 7 November in Wellington, 10 November in Hamilton, 13 November in Mount Maunganui, and 15 November in Mount Maunganui. All matches will start at 7:30 AM IST.

5. Where can I watch the 1st ODI?

In India, the match is expected on Sony Sports Network on television and on SonyLIV for streaming. For official scorecards and updates, official sources should be treated as final.