New Zealand Playing XI vs India- 1st ODI, New Zealand Tour of India 2026

India will go head-to-head against New Zealand in the first of the three-match ODI series. This article provides details about New Zealand’s Playing 11 vs India for the first match of the series.

New Zealand Playing XI vs India- 1st ODI, New Zealand Tour of India 2026:

Openers: Will Young, Devon Conway (wk)

New Zealand would like to continue the good form that the team has shown in recent times when it comes to ODI cricket, having won the last two series in this format of the game, when they face India in the first game of the three-match series.

The Blackcaps would hope to come up with a spirited performance despite having an inexperienced squad.

The onus will be on the senior players to put their hand up and make a significant contribution in their respective departments.

Devon Conway, being one of the senior batters, will be entrusted to get the team off to a good start while batting at the top of the order.

Conway will be partnered by Will Young, who has the experience of playing white ball cricket in India, having been a part of the team during the 2023 ODI World Cup, and would hope to use that to New Zealand’s advantage.

Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Josh Clarkson, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c)

As far as New Zealand’s middle order is concerned, it will rely on Daryl Mitchell and Henry Nicholls to build on the good work done by the openers.

The duo, being the most experienced batters in the team’s middle order, will have to take the responsibility and guide the team to a strong total while batting first by getting the opposition bowlers under pressure.

Other than Mitchell and Nicholls on the batter who will be banked upon to deliver with both bat and ball as he did in New Zealand’s historic Test series win in India in 2024, Glenn Phillips.

Phillips will get the company of the team’s captain for this series, Michael Bracewell, both of whom will bat in the middle order and will also play a crucial role with the ball in the middle overs of India’s batting innings with their spin.

Bowlers: Zak Foulkes, Michael Rae, Adi Ashok

If we talk about New Zealand’s bowling attack, it comprises a number of options, especially in the fast bowling side of things, which will make things a bit easier for the captain as he will be able to bring changes according to the situation of the game.

The fast bowling arsenal of the Kiwis includes Zak Foulkes, Mitchel Rae, Kyle Jamieson, Josh Clarkson, and Daryl Mitchell, who, although he doesn’t bowl much, has the ability to chip in with a few overs if required.

When it comes to the spin bowling department, New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell will have to do the heavy lifting with assistance from Glenn Phillips and Adi Ashok.

All things said, it will have to be a complete effort from the bowling attack of the visitors in order to restrict a strong batting lineup of India, with every bowler putting their hand up.