 "India won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in 1st ODI. Image: JioStar")
India won the toss and decided to bowl first against New Zealand in the 1st ODI at Vadodara on Sunday. Gill said the pitch looks good for batting and could get easier in the second innings once dew comes in. He explained that India want to try different team combinations before the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
Gill added that playing domestic cricket like the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 has helped players stay in good form. India have gone in with six bowling options, including three spinners - Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja - along with fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana.
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell said he would have liked to bowl first as well but was still happy to bat. He mentioned that the team has been in India for a while and has adjusted to the weather and conditions with good net sessions. Bracewell said playing in Indian conditions ahead of the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup is a big advantage for New Zealand.
The match also marks a special moment for Kristian Clarke, who makes his international debut for New Zealand. India’s Arshdeep Singh has been left out, with Krishna and Rana getting a go-ahead for the first match. Siraj makes a comeback in the ODI setup after a long time.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand after suffering an injury while batting in the nets during India’s practice session on Saturday afternoon at the BCA Stadium. Dhruv Jurel has been named his replacement.
Also Read: India vs New Zealand: BCA Stadium Pitch report and Vadodara weather forecast for the 1st ODI
India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI: Playing XIs
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), 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 (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok.