IND vs NZ Playing 11 for 1st ODI: Key Changes and Player Replacements

The opening ODI between India and New Zealand is scheduled for Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, setting the stage for an exciting NZ tour of India.

The match will begin at 1:30 PM IST, and is likely to ensure widespread attention from fans as their favourites, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are set to step on the field, and two of the best cricket teams in the world will be in action.

India vs New Zealand ODI Series 2026

India head into the match with a well-set and experienced lineup and will be led by the returning Shubman Gill, who will be keen to make an impact after getting dropped from the T20 lineup. The presence of senior campaigners Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma adds tons of experience to the batting order, while the return of Shreyas Iyer, cleared to play after a long injury, further strengthens India’s middle order.

New Zealand, meanwhile, arrive with a young squad under the leadership of Michael Bracewell, using this series as an opportunity to try new options in challenging Indian conditions due to the absence of several first-choice players. India has enjoyed significant success against the Black Caps in home ODIs, with their spin-heavy bowling attack. Conditions in Vadodara are expected to favour batting, with a flat surface.

IND vs NZ Playing 11 for 1st ODI 2026

The India Playing 11 1st ODI includes a strong and familiar top order with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), and Virat Kohli, while Shreyas Iyer adds reliability in the middle overs. After Iyer, the Men in Blue have a strong batting order comprising KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who offer balance with both bat and ball.

India’s bowling attack looks perfect, featuring spin through Kuldeep Yadav and pace options in Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana and creating a varied attack for the pitch conditions in Vadodara.

On the other hand, the New Zealand Playing 11 1st ODI has many young prospects, especially in the bowling order. Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, and Will Young form a dependable top order, while Daryl Mitchell anchors the middle order. Captain Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips provide all-round options, and then comes the young bowling attack led by Kyle Jamieson, along with many talented prospects in Zak Foulkes, Adithya Ashok and Jayden Lennox.

Key Players to Watch for in IND vs NZ 1st ODI

Virat Kohli comes into the opening ODI in outstanding form and will once again be one of India’s biggest batting hopes on Sunday. The former skipper and one of the best batsmen in the world enjoyed a prolific 2025 in the ODI format, finishing as India’s leading run-getter with 651 runs, including three hundreds and four half-centuries.

For New Zealand, fast bowler Kyle Jamieson remains a major threat with the new ball, using his tall height to generate more bounce and extra carry even on flat surfaces. His skill in shaping the ball back into the right-handers and hitting hard lengths can trouble the Indian top-order batters early in the innings, and the visitors will rely heavily on his performance as the rest of the bowling lineup is very young and inexperienced. If Jamieson finds his rhythm up front, all the Indian fans are well aware of the damage he can do.