India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Gill wins toss, fields four pacers at Eden Park
Synopsis
India's first five-game ODI series since 2019 has a World Cup shadow hanging over it — Bumrah and Pandya are absent, Gill is fielding an untested pace quartet, and New Zealand are missing Conway, Chapman, and Ravindra. Eden Park on Wednesday is less a bilateral fixture and more a stress test for both squads before South Africa 2027.
Key Takeaways
Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl in the 1st ODI at Eden Park, Auckland on 4 November 2026 .
India field four pacers — Anshul Kamboj , Auqib Nabi , Gurnoor Brar , and Arshdeep Singh — with Naman Dhir and Axar Patel as all-rounders.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the ODI XI; this is India's first five-match ODI series since March 2019 .
India are without Jasprit Bumrah , Hardik Pandya , and Prasidh Krishna due to injuries.
New Zealand's Devon Conway was ruled out the day before the game after a training collision; Tim Seifert opens in his place.
Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first in the 1st ODI between India and New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, on 4 November 2026, as the two sides kick off a five-match ODI series — India's first five-game ODI rubber since March 2019. With the ODI World Cup on the horizon, the stakes extend well beyond this bilateral contest.
India's Playing XI and Toss Decision
Citing overcast conditions at Eden Park, captain Gill named an attack-heavy side featuring four fast bowlers — Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, and Arshdeep Singh — alongside all-rounders Naman Dhir and Axar Patel. Veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the ODI fold, bolstering a batting line-up that also includes Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul behind the stumps.
'We'll bowl first, bit of overcast weather, and in case there's a reduction of overs, it's good to chase. The conditions here are going to be similar to SA (where the WC is happening) compared to some other places. We are going with Anshul, Auqib, Gurnoor, Arshdeep as the bowlers with Naman and Axar as the allrounders,' Gill said at the toss.
Notably, the squad is set to shuffle for the final two games of the series, making an early lead all the more important for India's planning.
Key Absentees on Both Sides
India head into the series without three key players. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are unavailable, while Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out with an injury — leaving the pace unit with a fresh look built around less-experienced names. This series, therefore, doubles as a crucial audition for the likes of Kamboj, Nabi, and Brar ahead of the World Cup.
New Zealand, too, are dealing with a depleted roster. Mark Chapman and Rachin Ravindra remain sidelined, and regular opener Devon Conway was ruled out just a day before the match after colliding with Matt Henry during a training session. Tim Seifert steps in as opener in Conway's absence.
New Zealand's Outlook
Blackcaps skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledged the rotation demands of a packed schedule but remained upbeat about his side's depth. 'We've got to go again on another good pitch. With the schedules, there's been a bit more rotation. Conway is doing well. He is going to rest up and obviously not going to play today. So Seifert gets a chance and like India, we also have four pacers,' Santner said.
Glenn Phillips, coming off a record-breaking T20I series, adds explosive potential in the middle order, giving the hosts firepower despite their injury concerns.
Playing XIs
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner.
What to Watch
With the World Cup serving as the broader context, every selection decision in this series carries extra weight. How India's makeshift pace attack performs in conditions similar to South Africa's will be closely watched by selectors. The result of the first ODI will set the tone for a tightly contested five-match battle.
Point of View
Pandya, or Prasidh — reveals both the depth of their injury crisis and the urgency to road-test replacements in conditions that mirror South Africa. Gill's toss call is tactically sound, but the real question is whether Nabi, Kamboj, and Brar can hold up under pressure in a completed 50-over contest. For New Zealand, the Conway training collision is a gift the pitch didn't need to give India — but Santner's side has enough talent in Jamieson and Phillips to make it a contest regardless of the absentees.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the toss in the India vs New Zealand 1st ODI?
India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl first at Eden Park, Auckland, citing overcast conditions on 4 November 2026. He also noted that chasing is an advantage if overs are reduced.
Why are Bumrah and Pandya not playing in the India vs New Zealand ODI series?
Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are unavailable for selection, while Prasidh Krishna has also been ruled out with an injury. Their absence means India are fielding a largely untested pace attack in this series.
Why is Devon Conway not playing the 1st ODI for New Zealand?
Devon Conway was ruled out the day before the match after colliding with Matt Henry during a training session. Tim Seifert has replaced him as opener in New Zealand's playing XI.
What is India's playing XI for the 1st ODI against New Zealand?
India's XI is: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.
Why is this India vs New Zealand ODI series significant?
It is India's first five-match ODI series since March 2019, and it is being played with the ODI World Cup in view. The series doubles as a selection trial, with the squad expected to rotate for the final two games.
