IND vs NZ 1st ODI: All you need to know about India vs New Zealand series opener in Napier.
India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Virat Kohli-led India will be looking to get the finishing touches completed for the 2019 World Cup when they take on New Zealand in a five-match ODI series starting Wednesday. Virat Kohli on Tuesday acknowledged that the series against New Zealand would serve as a preparation for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 and will try out a few players to see how they react in different situations.
The Indian team, which has shifted its focus entirely on World Cup preparations, is still searching for the right middle-order combination despite their first-ever bilateral ODI series win on Australian soil.
"There needs to be a collective effort towards refining ourselves as a team, approaching the World Cup. If we need to try out a few players here and there to see how they react in different situations or different positions in the team, we are open to doing that as well," Kohli said on the eve of the first ODI against New Zealand.
The match in Napier pits the second-ranked team in the world India against the World No.3 New Zealand.
1. IND vs NZ 1st ODI: Probabale Playing 11s
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India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: India are expected to start the 5-match ODI series in Napier with 3 pacers and 2 spinners. Yuzvendra Chahal is likely to keep his place after a Man of the Match performance with his 'record' 6-wicket-haul in the 3rd ODI against Australia. Ravindra Jadeja might lose out to Kuldeep Yadav for the second spinner's spot. Shubhaman Gill will have to wait his chance right now.
India (likely Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami
New Zeland (likely Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme/Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson/Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi
2. IND vs NZ 1st ODI: Stats
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India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Both nations have clashed in 96 completed ODI's against each other, with the Indians leading the head-to-head scoreline at 51-45, with one game ending in a tie. However, when it comes to fixtures played on New Zealand soil, the home team leads at 21-10.
As far as form is concerned, India have beaten West Indies and Australia in their past two ODI assignments, while Blackcaps have triumphed over Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
3. IND vs NZ 1st ODI: Prediction
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India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: India have not done well traditionally in New Zealand. At McLean Park, the venue on Tuesday, the head-to-head is slightly favours Kiwis at 3-2. This Indian team is high on confidence and will not go down without a fight. Still, New Zealand have the edge in the first ODI of the series.
4. IND vs NZ 1st ODI: When and Where to watch
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India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: The match will be played at McLean Park in Napier. It will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network on Wednesday, January 23 from 7:30 AM onwards. The match will be live streaming on Hotstar. The Star Sports 1 channel is available at Channel No. 603 on Dish TV.
