IND vs NZ Highlights, 1st ODI: KL Rahul leads India to four-wicket victory over New Zealand in series opener

Kuldeep Yadav provided India with another timely breakthrough, removing Glenn Phillips with a flighted delivery that dipped sharply. Phillips was drawn into the drive but lost his bottom hand, chipping a simple catch to Shreyas Iyer at cover-point.

Mitchell Hay walks in as New Zealand lose another wicket and India continue to tighten their grip.

Ravindra Jadeja continued to apply the squeeze, giving away just four runs in the 33rd over. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips rotated the strike but found it difficult to break free as India kept the field tight.

New Zealand move to 170/3 after 33 overs.

Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips finally broke the quiet spell, taking on Ravindra Jadeja with a boundary each. Mitchell slog-swept one cleanly over mid-wicket, while Phillips punched a short delivery through the off-side to keep the scoreboard moving.

New Zealand pick up nine from the over and move to 162/3 after 31 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav kept things quiet in the 30th over, allowing just three runs as Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips focused on survival and strike rotation. There were a couple of nervous moments for Mitchell, but India’s spin continued to build pressure through the middle overs.

New Zealand steady but subdued at 153/3 after 30 overs.

Mohammed Siraj struck in his second spell to remove Will Young, continuing India’s fightback. Bowling into the pitch with pace off, Siraj forced the mistake, with Young edging a short-of-length delivery to KL Rahul.

The dismissal underlined India’s smart adjustment in length and pace after the strong opening stand.

NZ 142/3 in the 28th over

Daryl Mitchell provided the scoring punch in the 26th over, lifting Mohammed Siraj just over mid-off for a boundary. Will Young chipped in with a single, while Siraj mixed his pace well and kept the rest of the over tight despite conceding a wide.

New Zealand continue to rebuild after the loss of the openers.

NZ 141/2 after 26 overs

New Zealand steadied themselves after losing both openers, with Will Young and Daryl Mitchell focusing on strike rotation against Ravindra Jadeja. Mitchell showed intent early with a reverse sweep, but India kept things largely under control in the middle.

The pair added seven runs in the over.

NZ 133/2 after 25 overs

Harshit Rana delivered another crucial blow for India, bowling Devon Conway with a slower, fuller delivery to end his well-made 56. Rana mixed his pace cleverly, unsettling both batters and swinging the momentum back India’s way. Will Young and the new batters now have the task of rebuilding.

NZ 126/2 after 24 overs

100-plus opening stand for NZ vs IND in India (ODIs)
140 - Andrew Jones, John Wright, Vadodara (MB), 1988
117 - Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Vadodara (BCA), 2026*
115 - Nathan Astle, Craig Spearman, Rajkot, 1999

Henry Nicholls looked in full flow, hitting two consecutive fours off Harshit Rana, but couldn’t make it past 62. On the next ball, Rana got the breakthrough with Nicholls caught by KL Rahul.

New Zealand are now 116/1, ending the openers’ century stand and giving India their first breakthrough of the innings.

Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway both reached fifty in the 20th over, guiding New Zealand to 104/0. Conway brought up his fifty with a crisp boundary off Washington Sundar, while Nicholls followed with a single to reach his milestone.

The openers have settled in beautifully, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries, leaving India yet to make the first breakthrough.

Devon Conway produced a huge six over deep square leg, escaping a regulation chance, while singles and a tidy knock from Henry Nicholls kept the scoreboard ticking. Kuldeep Yadav bowled with control, but the openers continued to find gaps and rotate strike effectively.

New Zealand are 95/0 after 19 overs

Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway continued their composed innings, taking singles and a couple of twos to keep the scoreboard ticking. Kuldeep Yadav bowled with discipline, but the batters found gaps and rotated strike efficiently.

New Zealand are 84/0 after 17 overs

Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway rotated the strike well and punished the loose deliveries. Nicholls impressed with a clever reverse sweep for four, while singles kept the scoreboard ticking.

New Zealand move to 76/0 after 15 overs

Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway continued their composed start, picking up singles and boundaries to keep the momentum. Nicholls played a classy sweep for four, while both openers rotated the strike smartly against Washington Sundar.

New Zealand are now 63/0 after 13 overs

Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway continued their measured approach in the 12th over, rotating the strike with a few quick singles. Prasidh Krishna bowled a probing line, but the batters stayed watchful and found gaps to keep the scoreboard moving.

New Zealand move to 56/0 after 12 overs

Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway continued their patient start, punishing short deliveries with boundaries. Conway clipped one fine past the fielder for four, while Nicholls cheekily used Prasidh Krishna’s pace to lap another to the ropes. Singles kept the strike rotating as well.

New Zealand are now 49/0 after 10 overs

Henry Nicholls came alive in the eighth over, pulling a short ball past square leg for four and following it up with a quick two through the mid-on gap. Harshit Rana kept things tight otherwise, with a couple of dot balls and a wide.

New Zealand continue their measured start at 36/0 after 8 overs, both openers looking comfortable but cautious.

Devon Conway once again found the rope, driving a slightly full slower ball from Mohammed Siraj past cover for four. Nicholls kept rotating the strike with a single, while Siraj bowled a disciplined over, beating the bat on a few deliveries and forcing the batters to stay cautious.

New Zealand continue their steady start at 29/0 after 7 overs.

New Zealand added seven runs in the sixth over, with Devon Conway pulling a short ball beautifully for four down fine leg. Both Conway and Henry Nicholls rotated the strike well, taking singles and keeping the scoreboard moving.

Harshit Rana bowled tightly at times, but a few loose deliveries were punished, helping NZ reach 24/0 after 6 overs.

Devon Conway punished a full delivery from Mohammed Siraj with a crisp drive through the covers for four, his second boundary of the innings. The rest of the over was tight from Siraj, with a few well-directed deliveries keeping Conway on his toes.


NZ 17/0 after 5 overs

Devon Conway provided the highlight of the over, punching a half-volley from Harshit Rana straight back past the bowler for a classy boundary. Apart from that, India kept things tight, with Rana beating the bat a couple of times and conceding just a single otherwise. A wide bouncer was the only loose delivery.

New Zealand continue to build patiently, with no risks taken early.

NZ 13/0 after 4 overs

New Zealand moved carefully but picked up momentum in the third over through Henry Nicholls. The left-hander clipped Mohammed Siraj through square leg for the first boundary of the innings, breaking an otherwise quiet passage of play.

Siraj continued to keep things tight, beating the bat and limiting scoring chances, while Conway and Nicholls focused on settling in rather than taking risks.

NZ 7/0 after 3 overs

Most appearances for India in ODIs
463 - Sachin Tendulkar
347 - MS Dhoni
340 - Rahul Dravid
334 - M Azharuddin
309 - Virat Kohli*
308 - Sourav Ganguly

Mohammed Siraj kept things neat in the opening over, conceding just one run. Devon Conway picked up a single, while Henry Nicholls was happy to get forward and block. New Zealand are 1 without loss, with India probing for an early wicket.

This venue is hosting its first Men’s ODI. In six List-A matches here during the VHT 2024/25, teams won the toss and chose to bowl each time; four of those matches were won by the team batting first. The average first-innings score is 284.

India’s long run of misfortune at the toss in one-day internationals has finally come to an end. By winning consecutive ODI tosses, India have snapped a remarkable streak that saw them lose 20 tosses in a row.

The sequence began with the 2023 World Cup final and stretched across multiple series.

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

New Zealand (Playing XI): Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay(w), Michael Bracewell(c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok

Michael Bracewell - It looks like a good surface, would have bowled first but I'm happy to be batting. We've been here for a little bit of time now. It's a big series for us. First of all, every time we play New Zealand, that's a proud moment. And also here, you get used to the conditions here in India before the World Cup. It's a huge advantage to us. We're very much excited about this series.

We're looking forward to it. It's always great to play here in India with the crowd and the fans. And it's a new experience for all the guys, but there's also a few experienced guys in the group. So we're certainly banking on that experience. Looks like a decent wicket. Maybe a little bit lower than some of the pitches in New Zealand. But we just have to be quick to adapt to the conditions. We've got Kristian Clark making his debut today and Ashok Aditya is our main spinner

Shubman Gill - We will bowl first. Honestly, try different kinds of combinations, you know, see what combination suits us the best for different conditions, obviously when we play in India. Whenever you're bowling second, there's a bit of a challenge with the dew, and so try out what kind of combination suits our condition the best. It looks like a good wicket. Hopefully, I think it'll be a little bit easier to bat on in the second innings with the new coming in, and that was the thought process behind bowling first.

I think playing a bit of VH series, everyone is coming after playing some matches, so everyone looks in good form. We've played a lot of cricket together, so you know, the environment is always nice and calm whenever we get together. We are going with six bowlers, with Washi, Jadeja, Kohli as the spinners, and Prasidh, Siraj, and Bhashan. Have a good one, Shikhar. Thank you. So Michael, what would you have planned when you won the Isles? It looks like a good surface, I think it'll be a little bit easier to bat on in the second innings with the new coming in, and that was the thought process behind it. India playing a lot of formats of the game. You've had hardly any time to get together as a team.

What's your thoughts on the preparation? I think playing a bit of middle-sides, everyone is coming after playing the middle-sides matches, so everyone looks in good form. We've played a lot of cricket together, so you know, the environment is always nice and calm whenever we get together. We are going with six bowlers, with Washi, Jadeja, Kuldeep as the spinners, and Prasidh, Siraj, and Harshit as the three pacers

India will bowl first after winning the toss in Vadodara. Captain Shubman Gill confirmed the decision at the toss, saying the conditions looked better for chasing later in the evening.

With Kotambi Stadium hosting its first One-Day International, India were quick to take advantage of the surface and early conditions. The hosts will look to put New Zealand under pressure early, while the visitors get first use of the pitch.

After a three-week break, India return to action with a white-ball series against visiting New Zealand. Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium is set to host its maiden One-Day International, and a full house is expected with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in Indian colours.

India’s build-up has been steady, with several players getting game time in Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for their respective states. The hosts will be without the rested Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, but they still begin as clear favourites against a depleted New Zealand side.

While the focus is gradually shifting towards the upcoming T20 World Cup and the five-match T20I series promises plenty of attention, this three-match ODI series carries its own importance. With an eye on the 2027 Cricket World Cup, both teams will be keen to fine-tune combinations and roles.

Toss and team sheets coming up shortly, in around 10 minutes.

The idea that ODI cricket is an easy scoring playground collapses the moment Virat Kohli’s numbers are placed in context. Over 3,000 cricketers have played one day internationals worldwide, yet only Kohli has combined longevity and dominance at such a scale. More than 14,500 runs, 53 centuries and an average close to 60 are not products of friendly conditions alone.

Those achievements were shaped by years of relentless work, elite fitness and an unmatched hunger for runs. Kohli did not thrive because bowlers stopped attacking or fields went defensive. He thrived because he adapted, improved and outperformed his peers across conditions and phases of the game.

As India begin their ODI build-up towards the 2027 World Cup, Kohli’s role remains vital. The preparation starts now, with limited matches and high expectations. Ending the long World Cup drought will require Kohli at his best, driven not by comfort, but by the same competitive fire that has defined his career.

Sanjay Manjrekar’s remark that Virat Kohli chose the “easier” route by focusing on ODIs sparked predictable outrage. The comment, suggesting Kohli stepped away from the tougher demands of Test cricket, spread rapidly and even drew a sharp response from Kohli’s brother, Vikas. While the question of how Kohli’s Test career ended may never have a clear answer, the timing of the debate is significant, coming just as India begin an ODI series against New Zealand.

Manjrekar’s broader claim that ODIs are the easiest format has divided opinion. Shubman Gill firmly rejected the idea, pointing out that India have not won an ODI World Cup since 2011. If the format were truly easy, sustained dominance in global tournaments would have followed. Gill stressed that every format demands resilience, consistency and mental strength, especially when ICC trophies are at stake.

ODIs may appear comfortable for elite top order batters, with flatter pitches, defensive fields and limited movement for bowlers. But that perception does not reflect the reality of long-term success. Kohli’s place in the format has been built not on convenience, but on discipline, preparation and an ability to deliver under pressure, time and again.

"The team atmosphere is amazing. The players that you named (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) have been in this atmosphere for decades, and they are the people who always try to push the Indian cricket team forward. Even in the last series you saw how well they performed, so I think the atmosphere in the team is great right now."

Shubman Gill, India skipper

"It's always a pleasure to come here to India and play against the Indian side. We want to gain some experience of playing in these conditions and put on a good show for it. And have a competitive ODI series. A month before the T20 World Cup, getting used to a lot of these conditions. We won't be in the same venue, but in general, getting used to the nature of the surfaces that they have."

Michael Bracewell, New Zealand skipper


Squads:

India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja

New Zealand Squad: Devon Conway(w), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell(c), Zakary Foulkes, Nick Kelly, Josh Clarkson, Michael Rae, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Hay, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Jayden Lennox

New Zealand stand-in captain Michael Bracewell on Saturday confirmed that all-rounder Kyle Jamieson will lead the pace attack and announced an ODI debut for 24-year-old Kristian Clarke in the first match against India.

The top two ranked ODI sides, India and New Zealand, will clash in the series opener here on Sunday.

“We have Kyle Jamieson, who's been around the game a long time and has plenty of experience. I'll be leaning a lot on him as captain to lead the bowling attack. He's a very skilful bowler,” Bracewell told reporters on the eve of the match.

“We're still working through the last of our (playing) XI, but I can confirm that Kristian Clarke is making his debut tomorrow (Sunday) so it's an exciting chance for him. We're really excited about how he's been bowling in domestic cricket in New Zealand and also in the build-up over here."

Bracewell said New Zealand’s batting remains their strength, with several frontline batters available on tour. “If you look at the experience in our side, it's in the batting department, which is fortunate. We know that our batting side is going to be strong and then there's plenty of opportunities for young guys to come in,” he said.

He also highlighted the advantage of spending extra time in India ahead of the series. “We perhaps don't have the experience that we normally have on our side. But in saying that, we come in here with high expectations on how we're going to play. We want to gain some experience of playing in these conditions and put on a good show for it. It's a huge benefit to being here this far out from the (T20) World Cup. We're certainly concentrating on this ODI series and want to have a big impact tomorrow. The fortunate thing is that we get to spend a bit more time in these conditions and hone our skills in these foreign conditions to us. There's a group of us here that have been here for a little bit longer doing some commercial commitments in Mumbai.”

Bracewell expressed confidence in leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, saying, "He's tall and bowls quickly, gives the ball a good spin. We're excited to see what he has in this series. I'm sure he'll go really well. He's been bowling brilliantly in the nets.”

Acknowledging the unique challenges of playing in front of packed Indian crowds, Bracewell said, “There are plenty of distractions over here, that's for sure. We (are not) used to in New Zealand, particularly in domestic cricket, to play in front of many people, so to come here in front of a sold-out crowd of 40,000 is a little bit different for a few guys in the group. But we've spoken about that and what to expect when you walk out onto the field. Devon (Conway) has played a lot over here and he's been really keen to share the experiences that he's had, whether it's international cricket or in the IPL. Glenn Phillips is also someone who's played a lot of cricket."

Bracewell also praised the venue, BCA Stadium, which will host its first men’s international match. “(It’s) a new facility so everything seems state-of-the-art and yeah, great facilities. It looks like an absolutely amazing outfield, one thing that stood out to me. I had to pick up some grass and see if it was real,” he said.

Team India captain Shubman Gill, batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, and pacer Prasidh Krishna praised Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand, which will mark the venue’s debut in hosting a One-Day International on January 11.

Ahead of the match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video on social media in which Gill, Jaiswal, and Krishna highlighted the stadium’s facilities.

Gill, set to lead India in his first ODI series at home, lauded the spacious dressing rooms and the overall quality of the stadium. “The stadium seems pretty amazing, even the facilities and the dressing room is very spacious. It's one thing that we always look for in a stadium, you know, how good the dressing room is, how good the ground is, the ground is also very beautiful,” he said.

Expressing his excitement about captaining India in ODIs for the first time at home, Gill added, “Obviously very excited, my first series in India as a captain in the ODI, so very excited and looking forward for the challenge. I think everyone has come through pretty well, they've all played the domestic games, so everyone is in good touch and very excited to play against the Kiwis.”

Jaiswal also spoke highly of the stadium’s setup, praising the outfield, pitch, dressing room, and recovery facilities. “It's a very beautiful stadium and the outfield is very good, the wicket is also very good, and the dressing room and recovery room is also very good. So it's a lot of fun to come here, the overall setup, the infrastructure is very good, so I'm really enjoying it, actually. It's a very good feeling, people here have a lot of craze for cricket, so it's going to be a lot of fun, we'll enjoy a lot, so looking forward to that,” he said.

Krishna expressed his excitement at returning to the venue, recalling his side Karnataka’s Vijay Hazare Trophy final victory in Vadodara last year. He also praised the top-class facilities. “I mean, I'm excited because exactly about a year back we came here, played the Vijay Hazare quarter semis and finals, and we ended up being the champions, so I'm quite excited to play on these grounds. And otherwise, I think it's such a great facility as soon as you come in, the pool, the gym area, the practice facilities and all is so good, so really excited for it,” Krishna said.

Staging a men’s international game after 15 years, this city, which owes its name to the presence of many badh (banyan) trees, could not have asked for a better return to big-time cricket. India’s ODI team is still powered by modern-day legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who attract the eyeballs.

Kohli, who scored 63 off 70 balls in the last ODI in Vadodara on Dec 4, 2010, is still going strong, and with both looking in good form, India will look to land the first punch against a new-look New Zealand in the opening ODI on Sunday. It will be the first-ever men’s international game at the new BCA Stadium in Kotambi and a sellout crowd of 31,000 people is expected.

While all the focus will be on ‘RoKo’, it will be interesting to see how India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill bounces back after being dropped from the T20 World Cup team after a lean run in the shortest format. The series will also mark the return to action of India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer. Iyer was forced to watch from the sidelines for a good three months due to a serious spleen injury that he suffered during the 3rd and final ODI in Sydney against Australia last Oct.

Rishabh Pant ruled out of ODI series; Dhruv Jurel named replacement

Wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant felt a sudden onset discomfort in his right lateral abdominal area while batting in the nets during India’s practice session on Saturday afternoon at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara.

"He was taken for MRI scans immediately and the BCCI Medical Team had a detailed discussion with an expert on his clinical and radiological findings. Pant has been diagnosed with a side strain (Oblique Muscle Tear) and is subsequently ruled out of the ODI Series".

"The Men’s Selection Committee has named Dhruv Jurel as Pant’s replacement, and Jurel has linked up with the squad".

India's updated ODI squad:

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK).

Dhruv Jurel has been named as injured Rishabh Pant's replacement for the three-match ODI series, starting from Sunday in Vadodara.

Rishabh Pant was on Saturday ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand after sustaining a side strain when he was struck on the ribs by a delivery from a throwdown specialist during an extended net session.

Jurel, who has been in sensational touch for Uttar Pradesh in the ongoing Vijay Hazara Trophy has joined Team India on Saturday night.

TimesofIndia.com understands that the selectors took the call moment Pant was ruled out of the series on Saturday evening.

Jurel is Uttar Pradesh’s top-scorer in the tournament with 558 runs in seven matches at an average of over 90. He has scored two hundreds as well as four half-centuries across seven innings in VHT 2025-26. Jurel is also leading the Uttar Pradesh team.


Jurel’s fine form with the bat has helped Uttar Pradesh top the Elite Group B points table, having amassed 28 points with wins in all seven of their matches so far.

Uttar Pradesh is set to face Saurashtra in the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

As India prepare to take on New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara on Sunday, captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer have personal milestones within reach in the 50-over format.

Shreyas Iyer is just 83 runs shy of completing 3,000 ODI runs. Having batted in 67 innings so far, the vice-captain is well positioned to make history.

Should he reach the landmark in this series, Iyer would become the fastest Indian to 3,000 ODI runs in terms of innings, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan, who achieved the feat in 72 innings.

If Iyer hits the milestone in the series opener itself, he would also equal Pakistan’s Babar Azam as the joint third-fastest batter globally, behind Hashim Amla, who reached 3,000 runs in 57 innings.

Shubman Gill, meanwhile, is 182 runs away from the same landmark.

With 58 innings under his belt, a series breakthrough would see him become the fastest Indian to 3,000 ODI runs in terms of both innings and matches. On the global stage, Gill would rank as the second-fastest ever, again behind Amla.

Adding to India’s records chase, Virat Kohli is closing in on a monumental milestone of his own.

The former captain needs just 25 more international runs to become only the third player in cricket history to surpass 28,000 runs across formats, joining legends Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. Kohli also requires 42 runs to overtake Sangakkara’s tally of 28,016 runs, which would make him the second-highest run-getter of all time.

With three ODIs ahead, all three batters have a prime opportunity to etch their names further into the record books while helping India make a strong start to the series.

As India begin their ODI series against New Zealand on Sunday, spinner Kuldeep Yadav is on the brink of a major milestone, needing just nine wickets to enter the elite list of Indian bowlers with 200 ODI scalps.

The series opener will be played in Vadodara, where the left-arm wrist-spinner is expected to shoulder the responsibility as India’s primary spin option.

Kuldeep currently has 191 wickets from 117 ODIs at an average of 26.29, with career-best figures of 6/25. His record also includes nine four-wicket hauls and two five-fors in the format.

At the top of India’s ODI wicket-taking chart remains former leg-spin great Anil Kumble, who finished with 334 wickets in 269 matches at an average of 30.83, including best figures of 6/12.

Several Indian greats have already crossed the 200-wicket mark, with Javagal Srinath (315), Ajit Agarkar (288), Zaheer Khan (269), Harbhajan Singh (255), Kapil Dev (253), Ravindra Jadeja (232) and Mohammed Shami (206) forming part of the exclusive club.

Kuldeep arrives into the New Zealand series on the back of a productive 2025 in ODIs.

The 29-year-old picked up 19 wickets in 11 matches during the year at an average of 29.00, registering best figures of 4/41 along with two four-wicket hauls.

With conditions in India often favouring spinners, Kuldeep will have a prime opportunity to push closer to the milestone as India look to make a strong start to the three-match series.

India have been dealt a blow on the eve of the first ODI against New Zealand with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant ruled out of the three-match series after sustaining a right-sided strain.

Pant picked up the injury during India’s optional practice session at the BCA B ground. The left-hander looked in good touch during a batting stint that lasted close to 50 minutes before he was struck just above the waist by a delivery from a throwdown specialist. The impact caused immediate discomfort, forcing Pant to drop to his knees in pain. He was swiftly attended to by the team’s support staff and soon left the nets.

Pant is expected to be sidelined for a few days before reporting to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for further medical assessment and rehabilitation. He had come into the series after leading Delhi in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy in Bengaluru, where he scored half-centuries against Services and Railways to help his side reach the knockout stage.

This is the second injury setback for Pant in recent times. He had earlier fractured his right foot during the fourth Test against England in Manchester before making his return through the home Test series against South Africa in November last year.

Although Pant has remained part of India’s ODI plans over the last two years, his most recent appearance in the format came during the tour of Sri Lanka in August 2024. Despite speculation over his place in the squad, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee had retained him for the New Zealand series.

With Pant now unavailable, the team management will need to name a replacement, with Dhruv Jurel and T20 World Cup-bound Ishan Kishan emerging as the leading contenders following strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The ODI series will begin at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, which will host its first men’s international. The second and third ODIs are scheduled for January 14 in Rajkot and January 18 in Indore, respectively.

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of first ODI match between India and New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi in Vadodara.

India will bank heavily on the rich vein of form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the hosts, at full strength, take on a revamped New Zealand side in the opening ODI of the three-match series on Sunday.

Even with the T20 World Cup less than a month away, the spotlight over the next week will firmly be on the senior duo as India look to build momentum in the 50-over format.

Kohli and Rohit have not lacked match practice, having turned out in the Vijay Hazare Trophy league stage and piled on the runs, reinforcing their enduring value in the format. Their performances have ensured that India enter the series with confidence at the top of the order.

Attention will also be on captain Shubman Gill, whose return comes amid scrutiny after his omission from the T20 World Cup squad. Injuries limited his involvement against South Africa late last year, and his response in this series could be crucial.

Gill’s inclusion is likely to push Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the top order, despite the latter scoring his maiden ODI century in the previous series.

The comeback of Shreyas Iyer is expected to bring stability to the middle order, with the 31-year-old set to reclaim his preferred No. 4 position after a phase of experimentation.

KL Rahul is likely to continue in the dual role of wicketkeeper and lower-order batter after Rishabh Pant ruled of the series due to injury.

For New Zealand, the series offers a platform to test depth despite missing several frontline players.

Mitchell Santner is sidelined with a groin injury, Tom Latham is away for family reasons and Kane Williamson is on SA20 duty. Michael Bracewell will captain the side, with eyes on Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok and a batting group that still features Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will Young and Glenn Phillips.