India will face a tough challenge from New Zealand in the first ODI

India's home record against New Zealand is a familiar feeling, especially in the ODI format. The first ODI, starting at 1:30 pm on Sunday at the Kotambi Stadium, will give India another chance to prove why they are such a strong force on their home soil.

New Zealand won't have fond memories of their last ODI tour to India. The 3-0 whitewash tells its own story, and that trend has continued, with India winning all five of the most recent ODIs played between the two teams. The numbers don't lie, and in cricket, they often tell the story even before the first ball is bowled. India enters the series with a dazzling home record. Their recent four consecutive home ODI series victories are a testament to consistency rather than flashiness. Against South Africa, India showed both power and maturity, scoring over 300 twice and then comfortably chasing 271 in the final match with nine wickets to spare. Such performances indicate that the batting unit knows when to attack and, more importantly, when to hold back. Virat Kohli was once again rock-solid. His 302 runs in the series, including two centuries and an unbeaten half-century, are a reminder of how dangerous class can be when combined with hunger. Kohli seems to be at a stage where he gets into autopilot mode even before the mind makes a decision.

India has also been bolstered by the return of ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who has recovered from an injury. His presence strengthens the middle order, which is invaluable if early wickets fall. The return of Mohammed Siraj has bolstered the pace attack, while the inclusion of Shubhman Gill has brought finesse and confidence to the top and middle order.

However, New Zealand is not just here to make up the numbers. Since their loss to India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final, they have quietly gained momentum and remain unbeaten in their last nine ODIs. Consecutive 3-0 series victories over Pakistan, England, and the West Indies have given them confidence ahead of the tour, even if it's not absolute certainty. Devon Conway's form will boost the visitors' morale. He topped the batting charts against the West Indies, while Kyle Jamieson's seven wickets in the series showed he can generate bounce and movement even when conditions are not overly helpful. The inclusion of several new faces indicates that New Zealand is thinking about the future and building depth rather than relying solely on familiar names. In the absence of Kane Williamson due to SA20 commitments, Michael Bracewell has taken over the captaincy and has done so in a calm and effective manner.

The probable playing elevens for both teams are as follows:
India: Shubhman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (captain), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Nick Kelly, Mitch Hay (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Kyle Jamieson, Jack Fawcett, Michael Rae, Jaden Lennox, Christian Clarke, Aditya Ashok, Josh Clarkson.