NZ vs IND Today’s Match Prediction & Cricket Betting Tips: India Tour of New Zealand 2026, 1st ODI, October 4

Team India comprehensively registered a 3-2 series win over New Zealand in the T20Is. Now the two teams are all set to lock horns in a 5-match ODI series set to kick off at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4. Team India must be looking to settle the score against the Blackcaps, who entered their territory earlier this year and humbled the Indian side 2-1 to register their first-ever ODI series win in India. With so many bruises to show, Team India will enter this ODI series for vengeance and should start well in the opening game to set the tone for the series. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 1st ODI, NZ vs IND, at Eden Park in Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau).

Win Probability: NZ vs IND

New Zealand enters this contest as the firm favorites. Yes, they lost the T20I series recently but managed to win the last two games, which will give them some confidence for sure. Team India’s recent run in the ODIs hasn’t been great, and the hosts must be wary of the same. The Blackcaps will look to dominate India, who have been struggling in the format of late despite being the number one ranked side in the ODIs. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the 1st ODI, NZ vs IND, at Eden Park in Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau).

IND: 71% win chance
NZ: 29% win chance

Team India has won two and lost three of their last five ODIs.
New Zealand have won three and lost two of their last five ODIs.
New Zealand won the last ODI series against India earlier this year by 2-1 in India.
In the last five meetings between the two sides, India have won three games, whereas New Zealand have won two.

Cricket Betting Tips for NZ vs IND- 1st ODI

Will Young to score Over 26.5

Will, batting at no 3 for the Blackcaps, will be a crucial cog. He has amassed 344 runs in his last 10 ODI outings and will be looking to add more to his tally in this game.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

Daryl Mitchell to score Over 32.5

Daryl Mitchell, in his last ODI series against India, scored three centuries in as many games and gained the no. 1 ODI batter ranking. Now playing at home, Daryl will look to score as many runs as he can.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

Shubman Gill to score Over 41.5

The Indian skipper has been in impeccable form oflate. Fresh off a brilliant double ton in the second ODI against West Indies, Shubman has amassed 783 runs in his last 10 ODI innings at a staggering average of 130.5.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

Virat Kohli to score Over 40.5

Virat will be a key bet in the middle order for India. He has scored runs in New Zealand in the past and has an idea of the conditions to get offered in Auckland. He remains a cornerstone in India's middle-order.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

NZ vs IND Today’s Match Prediction

Check out our prediction for the NZ vs IND 1st ODI match at Eden Park in Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau).

A litmus Test for the ODI skipper Shubman Gill

After a T20I series win, Team India should draw confidence from that performance and look to perform well in the ODIs, a format they have struggled with since Shubman Gill took over the captaincy. Under Gill, the Indian team has only managed to win two ODI series at home against Afghanistan and the West Indies, whereas they lost two away series to Australia and England and even lost a home series to New Zealand.

With the ODI World Cup 2027 less than a year away, this series will be a litmus test of Shubman Gill’s leadership in the format. He has been terrific with the bat, but his on-field tactics have been questionable. Also, the fact that head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Shubman Gill are backing new pacers despite their regular failures has raised serious questions over India’s pace attack.

Questions are plenty for Team India as they enter this series, but a clinical show across the five games could set the tone for India’s quest for the ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in October 2027. The fans would hope for a special performance from their two stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who could be on their final trip to New Zealand.

New Zealand should start favorites at home in a format they have been doing well in recent times

New Zealand will head into the upcoming five-match ODI series as favorites, especially on home soil where they have consistently produced strong performances in the 50-over format in recent years. The Blackcaps have built a reputation for adapting quickly to conditions, and under Mitchell Santner’s leadership, they will be confident of continuing their impressive run against India.

The series, which begins at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, adds another exciting chapter to the rivalry between the two sides. India will arrive with revenge firmly on their minds after suffering a 2-1 series defeat at home earlier this year. That result was particularly significant as it marked New Zealand’s first-ever bilateral ODI series victory on Indian soil, a feat that highlighted the visitors’ discipline and ability to handle pressure in unfamiliar conditions.

With confidence high, Santner and his men will be eager to replicate that success against the Men in Blue. However, India possess enough quality and firepower to turn the tables, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested ODI battle between two of the world’s strongest white-ball teams. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.

NZ vs IND Head-to-Head

Matches Played: 123
NZ won: 52
IND won: 63
Tie: 1
No Result: 7
RECENT form INDIA: L L W W L
RECENT form NEW ZEALAND: L W W W L

Across 123 meetings between the two sides in ODI cricket, New Zealand have won 52 games, whereas India, with the upper hand, have won 63 encounters. One match ended as a tie, whereas seven games ended without a result.

Team Analysis: New Zealand and India

How will the two teams, i.e., India and New Zealand, fare in the 1st ODI? Let’s take a look.

INDIA (IND)

Team India has announced a 16-man squad for the first three ODIs led by Shubman Gill.
Washington Sundar has finally been dropped. That good-for-nothing all-rounder in white-ball cricket was heavily favored by coach Gautam Gambhir but has finally shown the door.
Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer returns to the squad after missing the last ODI series against West Indies due to the 2026 Asian Games commitments.
Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out after he failed to recover from an injury. Jammu pacer Auqib Nabi Dar has replaced him in the squad for the entire series.
Skipper Shubman Gill, along with former skipper Rohit Sharma, will be opening the innings.
Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul should be the ones forming the rest of the batting order.
Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy will be the two all-rounders.
If need be, Naman Dhir could be swept with Axar Patel.
Gautam Gambhir’s inclination towards Gurnoor Brar and Anshul Kamboj will mean that Auqib Nabi will sit out.
Also, with no Prasidh Krishna available for the series, Mohammed Siraj will have to start in the eleven, with Kuldeep Yadav being the frontline spin bowling option.

Expected Starting 11

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand (NZ)

New Zealand have announced a 15-man squad for the series led by all-rounder Mitchell Santner.
Rachin Ravindra (shoulder injury) and Mark Chapman (hamstring injury) have been ruled out of the ODI series.
Tim Seifert has been added to the squad. He was originally part of the last two games, but injuries to Rachin and Mark have forced the management to include Tim for the entire series.
Left-hand batter Henry Nicholls has been brought in for the first three matches.
Matt Henry, who was ruled out of the T20I series, has joined the ODI camp.
Matthew Fisher, who was named only for the last two games originally, has been included for the full series.
Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway should be opening the innings.
Will Young will bat at no 3 followed by the likes of Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham.
Michael Bracewell and skipper Mitchell Santner will be the two spin-bowling all-rounders.
Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy will form the pace trio.
If Matt Henry is fit, he will play; otherwise, either Blair Tickner or Matthew Fisher could start.

Expected Starting 11

Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (WK), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry/Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy

Weather Conditions and Pitch Report

Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 1st ODI between India and New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau):

Pitch Report – Eden Park, Auckland	Weather Report – Auckland
Eden Park traditionally offers good pace and bounce, allowing stroke-makers to play their shots freely.	Conditions are expected to be pleasant for cricket during the afternoon.
The short straight boundaries make it one of the most high-scoring venues in New Zealand.	Temperature is likely to hover around 18-21°C during match hours.
Fast bowlers can extract early movement with the new ball, especially in the first 10 overs.	Partly cloudy skies are expected throughout the day.
Batters who get set can capitalize on the small dimensions and quick outfield.	Rain is not expected to play a major role in the contest.
Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first and make use of any early assistance for seamers.	Humidity levels should remain moderate, providing comfortable playing conditions.
A first-innings score of 280-320 could prove competitive, depending on overhead conditions.	Light winds are forecast, with no major weather interruptions anticipated.

Toss Prediction

Eden Park’s reputation for offering early assistance to seamers and its short boundaries make chasing an attractive option. The captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first, aiming to exploit any movement with the new ball before conditions become better for batting under clear afternoon skies.

Where to Watch Today’s Match

The online live streaming of the 1st ODI match of the India Tour of New Zealand 2026 will take place live on the SonyLIV app. The live TV coverage for this series will be available on the Sony Sports Channels.

NZ vs IND: Today’s Match Predictions

New Zealand enters this contest as the firm favorites. They head into this series with confidence, having pummelled India in their own backyard in a 3-match ODI series earlier this year. Having won the last two T20Is of the recently concluded series also gives them confidence to tame Team India. The visitors will look to give a tough fight, but the way they have been playing under Shubman Gill away from home in ODIs makes them the second favorites heading into this game. Therefore, as per our prediction, the hosts, New Zealand, are expected to win the NZ vs IND 1st ODI match.

Want more Cricket Betting Tips like this? Click here