New Zealand vs India: 3 batters to watch in 1st ODI

Eden Park in Auckland is the venue for the opening fixture of a five-match ODI series between New Zealand and India on November 4, 2026. The ground has historically favoured pace bowling, and chasing sides have won 42 times compared to 33 wins for teams batting first, making the toss an important factor.

Both squads have strong batting line-ups, and a handful of players stand out as capable of shaping the result. Here are three batters worth watching closely when the two sides meet in the first ODI.

Here are three batters to watch out for in 1st ODI between New Zealand and India:

3. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been playing only ODIs in 2026, and the gaps between series have done little to slow him down. Across 9 ODI matches this year, he has accumulated 552 runs at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 117.94, with 2 centuries and 3 fifties to his name. His highest score of 139* came against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram in September 2026, an innings that was also his 55th ODI hundred. Earlier in 2026, during the New Zealand tour of India in January, Kohli reached 28,000 international runs and moved past Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history.

2. Daryl Mitchell

Daryl Mitchell's record against India in ODIs is one of the standout numbers heading into this series. The 35-year-old has scored 741 runs from 11 ODI innings against India at an average of 74.10 and a strike rate of 97.11. His 2026 ODI average of 94.60 underlines how consistent he has been this year. In the recent T20I series against India, Mitchell scored 176 runs from 5 games at a strike rate of 174.26. He was also the leading run-scorer in the ODI series New Zealand won in India in January 2026, finishing with 352 runs and earning the Player of the Series award.

1. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill captains India for the opening three ODIs of this series, with Shreyas Iyer set to take over from the fourth game. The 27-year-old is the leading ODI run-getter across all teams in 2026, having scored 895 runs from 11 innings at an average of 111.87 and a strike rate of 118.70. As captain, he led India to a series win over the West Indies at home, though the side fell short against England in the United Kingdom. The New Zealand series carries added significance as a preparation exercise, with the ODI World Cup next year scheduled in conditions similar to those in New Zealand. Gill's role at the top of the order will be central to how India set or chase totals throughout the series.