India and New Zealand will play the first ODI of their five-match series on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, at Eden Park in Auckland. The match will begin at 7:30 AM IST (3:00 PM local time). Fans in India can watch it on Sony Sports Network and stream it on SonyLIV. Shubman Gill will captain India, while Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand.

India and New Zealand are ready for another exciting ODI series, with the opening match scheduled for 4 November 2026.

After winning the five-match T20I series 3–2, India will look to continue its winning momentum in the 50-over format.

The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli adds experience to India’s batting line-up. Meanwhile, New Zealand will rely on its home advantage, strong pace attack and experienced middle-order batters.

The first ODI will take place at Eden Park, Auckland, a ground known for its relatively short straight boundaries and challenging conditions for visiting teams.

In this CricketGatha preview, we cover the match date, Indian start time, live streaming platforms, venue, pitch report, head-to-head record, team news, probable playing XIs and important records.

Updated: 3 November 2026. This is a pre-match preview. The confirmed playing XIs, toss result, live scorecard and match highlights will be added after the match begins.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026 Match Details

What Time Will India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026 Start?

The India vs New Zealand first ODI will begin at 7:30 AM Indian Standard Time on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

The match will start at 3:00 PM in Auckland.

Indian fans will need to tune in during the morning to watch the action live.

Where to Watch India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026 Live?

Cricket fans in India can watch the match through the official broadcasting partners.

IND vs NZ 1st ODI Live Telecast and Streaming

Sony’s coverage includes commentary options in multiple Indian languages.

Streaming access may require an eligible subscription.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026 Venue: Eden Park, Auckland

The first ODI will be played at Eden Park in Auckland.

Eden Park is one of New Zealand’s most famous cricket venues and regularly hosts international matches.

The stadium is known for its unusual ground dimensions, particularly its relatively short straight boundaries.

Eden Park Stadium Details

Eden Park Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling Friendly?

Eden Park can offer assistance to fast bowlers, especially when there is cloud cover and movement with the new ball.

Batters may initially find the conditions challenging because the ball can swing or seam.

However, the relatively short straight boundaries create opportunities for aggressive stroke play.

Once batters settle, the ground can produce high-scoring ODI matches.

What Can We Expect From the Pitch?

Fast bowlers: New-ball movement and bounce could create wicket-taking opportunities.

Batters: Timing the ball well and targeting the shorter boundaries may help teams score quickly.

Spinners: Spin bowlers may need to vary their pace and use accurate lines because of the boundary dimensions.

Toss factor: Captains should assess the surface and weather before deciding whether to bat or bowl. There is no guarantee that chasing will be easier.

What Is a Good First-Innings Score at Eden Park?

A total around 280–300 could be competitive, depending on the pitch and weather.

However, this is a pre-match estimate rather than an official venue average.

The actual conditions on match day will determine whether a lower total is defendable or a bigger score is needed.

India vs New Zealand ODI Head-to-Head Record

India and New Zealand have a long history of competitive ODI matches.

Both teams have faced each other in bilateral series, ICC tournaments and World Cup knockout matches.

India has historically held the advantage in overall ODI victories, but New Zealand has often been difficult to beat at home.

IND vs NZ Head-to-Head: Important Facts

The exact updated head-to-head totals should be taken from the official match database before publication, as this article is intended to remain accurate immediately before the November fixture.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026: Team News

India Team News

Shubman Gill will captain India in the first three ODIs.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the ODI squad, strengthening India’s batting.

Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain for the first three matches.

Jasprit Bumrah has been rested.

Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out due to fitness concerns, with Auqib Nabi included as his replacement.

Nitish Kumar Reddy is available for the first ODI.

New Zealand Team News

Mitchell Santner will captain New Zealand.

Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman have been ruled out because of injuries.

Tim Seifert and Henry Nicholls are among the available batting options.

The home team also has several experienced bowlers, including Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026 Probable Playing XI

The following are projected combinations, not confirmed playing XIs. Final teams will be announced at the toss.

India Probable Playing XI

1. Rohit Sharma
2. Shubman Gill (Captain)
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
6. Nitish Kumar Reddy
7. Axar Patel
8. Kuldeep Yadav
9. Arshdeep Singh
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Auqib Nabi

New Zealand Probable Playing XI

1. Devon Conway
2. Will Young
3. Henry Nicholls
4. Daryl Mitchell
5. Tom Latham (Wicketkeeper)
6. Glenn Phillips
7. Michael Bracewell
8. Mitchell Santner (Captain)
9. Matt Henry
10. Kyle Jamieson
11. Jacob Duffy

The actual batting order and team selection may differ.

Key Players to Watch in India vs New Zealand 1st ODI

Virat Kohli – India

Virat Kohli remains one of India’s most important ODI batters.

His ability to build partnerships and control run chases could be valuable in Auckland.

Rohit Sharma – India

Rohit Sharma brings experience and aggressive opening batting.

His performance against New Zealand’s new-ball attack could influence India’s start.

Shubman Gill – India

Gill will lead the team and play an important role at the top of the order.

His technique and ability to score big ODI hundreds make him a key player.

Daryl Mitchell – New Zealand

Daryl Mitchell is an important middle-order batter for New Zealand.

He has previously delivered strong performances against India in major tournaments.

Mitchell Santner – New Zealand

Santner contributes with left-arm spin, lower-order batting and captaincy.

His ability to control the middle overs could be important.

Matt Henry – New Zealand

Matt Henry’s seam bowling can be dangerous in New Zealand conditions.

His new-ball spell against India’s top order will be one of the key contests.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026: Key Battles

Rohit Sharma vs Matt Henry

Rohit’s attacking approach will be tested against Henry’s accurate new-ball bowling.

Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Santner

Kohli’s strike rotation against Santner’s left-arm spin could influence India’s middle overs.

Shubman Gill vs Kyle Jamieson

Jamieson’s height and bounce may challenge Gill during the early overs.

Daryl Mitchell vs Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep’s wrist-spin against Mitchell’s ability to play spin could become an important contest.

India vs New Zealand ODI Series 2026 Full Schedule

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026: Records to Watch

Several individual performances could make the opening ODI memorable.

Virat Kohli: His ODI century tally and international run-scoring records remain major talking points.

Rohit Sharma: The experienced opener will look to add another big score to his ODI career.

Shubman Gill: The captain will aim to begin the series with a strong batting performance.

New Zealand’s pace attack: Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy could make use of Auckland’s conditions.

India’s away record: India will look to improve its ODI record against New Zealand at Eden Park.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026 Match Prediction

India enters the match with a strong batting line-up featuring Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer.

New Zealand, however, has the advantage of familiar home conditions.

The opening overs could be particularly important.

If India’s top order handles the new ball well, the visitors may be able to build a competitive total or chase successfully.

If New Zealand’s seamers take early wickets, the home team could gain control.

Prediction: A competitive contest, with India strong on batting experience and New Zealand well suited to the conditions.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026 Live Scorecard

This section will be updated after the match begins on 4 November 2026.

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026 Highlights

Match highlights will be added after the game.

The main moments to follow include the opening partnerships, new-ball wickets, middle-over bowling spells and the final result.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is India vs New Zealand 1st ODI 2026?

The first ODI will be played on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

2. What time will IND vs NZ 1st ODI start in India?

The match will start at 7:30 AM IST.

3. Where will India vs New Zealand 1st ODI be played?

At Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

4. Which city is hosting the first ODI?

Auckland.

5. Where can I watch IND vs NZ 1st ODI live in India?

The match will be available on Sony Sports Network.

6. Which app will stream India vs New Zealand 1st ODI?

SonyLIV will stream the match in India.

7. Who is India’s captain for the first ODI?

Shubman Gill.

8. Who is New Zealand’s captain?

Mitchell Santner.

9. Will Virat Kohli play the first ODI?

Virat Kohli is included in India’s ODI squad. His participation in the final XI will be confirmed at the toss.

10. Will Rohit Sharma play the first ODI?

Rohit Sharma is part of the squad and is expected to feature, subject to final team selection.

11. Is Jasprit Bumrah playing the ODI series?

No. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested.

12. Is Prasidh Krishna available?

No. Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the ODI series.

13. What is the Eden Park pitch report?

The surface can assist seam bowling early, while relatively short boundaries provide opportunities for batters.

14. Is Eden Park batting-friendly?

It can be, especially after batters settle. Conditions vary from match to match.

15. Who won the recent T20I series?

India won the five-match T20I series 3–2.

16. How many ODI matches will India play in New Zealand?

Five ODIs are scheduled.

17. When is the second ODI?

The second ODI will be played on 7 November 2026.

18. Will the first ODI be a day-night match?

Yes. It is scheduled to start at 3:00 PM local time.

19. Has the playing XI been announced?

Not yet. The confirmed teams will be announced at the toss.

20. Where can fans check the live scorecard?

Fans can follow the match through BCCI and established cricket score platforms.

Conclusion

India and New Zealand will begin their five-match ODI series on 4 November 2026 at Eden Park, Auckland.

The match starts at 7:30 AM IST, with live coverage available on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV.

India will be led by Shubman Gill, while Mitchell Santner will captain New Zealand.

The return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma adds excitement to the contest, while the hosts will rely on their strong pace attack and familiar conditions.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, the series also offers both teams an opportunity to test combinations and build momentum.

Stay connected with CricketGatha for the confirmed playing XI, toss result, scorecard, highlights and match records.

CricketGatha – Cricket Ki Har Kahani.