New Zealand vs India 1st ODI Prediction

IND Team News

As with the series against Australia, Jasprit Bumrah continues to be rested with Mohammad Siraj called up in his place. Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were sent home from that series for comments made on TV, and Vijay Shankar and Shubman Gill continue in their place.

After beating Australia, it may be a similar line-up against New Zealand. MS Dhoni continues behind the stumps after his heroics temporarily silenced calls for Rishabh Pant to be called up in his place.

IND Key Players

MS Dhoni responded to pressure on his place in the Indian starting line-up in perfect style against Australia, with two match-winning knocks to turn the series India’s way. After a sluggish half-century in the first game, he hit an unbeaten 55 to win the second and 87 not out as India won the third.

As ever, Virat Kohli was in outstanding form too – his century was key to India’s win in the second ODI, and he also hit 46 in the third match. He had previously gone into the series averaging 151 in his previous five ODIs, after three back-to-back centuries against West Indies.

Rohit Sharma has scored 622 runs in his last nine ODIs, meanwhile – slightly down on where he was at pre-Australia but still in good shape at the top of the batting order.

With the ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took his 100th ODI wicket in the first ODI and then claimed 4-45 as India won the second ODI. Yuzvendra Chahal was the bowling star in the most recent game, however, taking 6-42 from his ten overs to help bowl Australia out for 230 – the best ODI figures by a spinner in Australia.

IND Team Form

Since defeat to England in July, India have been in good form in ODIs. They won the Asia Cup, beating Hong Kong and Pakistan in the first group stage and Bangladesh and Pakistan in the second with Rohit Sharm and Shikhar Dhawan in top form. A tie with Afghanistan was the only slight blip but they beat Bangladesh in the final – bowling them out for 222 on their way to a dramatic three-wicket win.Next up was a series with West Indies, and Virat Kohli hit top form in a 3-1 series triumph. The Indian skipper hit three back-to-back centuries and, while the series was finely poised at 1-1 after three games, Sharma’s 162 in a total of 377/5 lifted them to a 224-run win in the fourth game. In the final match, Ravindra Jadeja led the bowling as West Indies were dismissed for 104 and India took just 14.5 overs to win by nine wickers and seal the series.

Most recently was the tour of Australia, and they fell short chasing 288/5 in the first game – finishing on 254/9. India hit back, however. Virat Kohli hit a century and MS Dhoni an unbeaten half-century in a six-wicket win in the second game, before Yuzvendra Chahal took 6-42 and Australia were all out for 230 in the series decider. Dhoni led the chase, scoring an unbeaten 87 in a seven-wicket win.