Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl first against New Zealand in the opening match of the five-match ODI series at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday, with veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to India’s playing XI.
India arrived in Auckland after winning the preceding five-match T20I series 3-2, but the 50-over series opens a separate test of the side’s depth and combinations as both teams build toward next year’s ODI World Cup.
Gill said overcast conditions and the chance of a shortened match shaped his call at the toss. “We’ll bowl first, bit of overcast weather, and in case there’s a reduction of overs, it’s good to chase,” he said, adding that conditions in Auckland would resemble those in South Africa, where the World Cup will be played.
India named four fast bowlers — Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh — alongside all-rounders Naman Dhir and Axar Patel, Gill said.
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New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said Devon Conway was recovering well but would sit out the opener, handing Tim Seifert his chance at the top of the order. “Like India, we also have four pacers,” Santner said.
Rain delayed the toss by about 20 minutes before the covers came off and play began.
Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull said the Eden Park surface had grass coverage and could produce a high-scoring match. “You need somewhere around 300, but I expect we need more,” Doull said.
India are without Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested for the series, and Prasidh Krishna, who was ruled out with injury. Nabi, named as Krishna’s replacement, went straight into the playing XI.
New Zealand are without Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman for the whole series, while Conway was ruled out of the opener after a concussion in a training-ground collision with Matt Henry.
Gill will captain India for the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer set to take over for the final two matches, as the tour later moves to a two-Test series.
| Team | Playing XI |
|---|---|
| India | Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh |
| New Zealand | Tim Seifert, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner |
Confirmed so far are the toss, both playing XIs and the five-match schedule, which continues with the second ODI in Wellington on November 7.
