India vs New Zealand 1st ODI Prediction

If NZ Bat First

Predicted Score: Around 270

Martin Guptill's return to form will be a huge positive for the Kiwi batting. He scored some valuable runs in the last test and he becomes a better batsman in limited-overs cricket. He was the highest run-getter in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and he has a good chance of top-scoring here as well. Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson are two others who can change the course of the game single-handedly. New Zealand should get to the predicted score if these three show some good form.

The visitors will be feeling a lot more relaxed as India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been rested for this series. But there will be Jasprit Bumrah in the side who will be backed by his team to go for the wickets. The pacer has notched up 11 scalps in 4 ODIs and we expect him to continue the good work and be the top bowler for India. If he runs through the top-order early on, New Zealand might struggle to reach even 250. 

IND vs NZ Head-to-Head in ODIs

93 ODIs have been played between these two teams of which 46 have been won by India and 41 by New Zealand. One of these games have ended in a tie while five did not produce a result. The last time New Zealand toured India for a 5-match bilateral ODI series in 2010/11, they lost all the games resulting in a humiliating 5-0 whitewash.

India vs New Zealand Betting Odds

India are starting the ODI series as hot favorites and their allround performance in the tests make them a good value at 1.48 with 1xbet and 1.44 with bet365. Though New Zealand's chances will be much higher in the 50-overs format, they will still start out as outsiders for the first one-dayer at 2.98 with betfair and 2.75 with bet365.

Our Prediction

New Zealand were outclassed by India in the test series in every department - batting, bowling and even fielding. Some of the Kiwi batsmen did manage to put up a good resistance, but it was not enough to avert a 3-0 clean sweep. India, a side that relies heavily on its spinners in these conditions, also did well in the pace department.

The visitors have not played a one-day game at the HPCA before. They have only played one World T20 match here which they won against Australia. The hosts have played two ODIs at this ground, losing the first one to England and winning the next against the West Indies. So India will have the advantage of being familiar with the ground conditions beforehand.

It is true that the shorter the format of the game, the narrower the gap between two teams becomes. But looking at the way India dominated New Zealand in the tests, we predict them to start the ODI series with a win.