Following the completion of five-match T20I series, the action now shifts to the ODI format. The last time two teams met each other in this format, a spot in the final of World Cup 2019 final was at stake and New Zealand prevailed in a nail-biting encounter to knock India out of the tournament. India have already punished NZ with a 5-0 win in T20I series and the visitors will hope to overpower the hosts in ODIs as well.
Also Read: India vs New Zealand: Prithvi Shaw Confirmed To Make ODI Debut, KL Rahul To Bat In Middle-Order
Both the teams suffered blows ahead of the opening ODI. Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the remainder of the fixtures due to a calf issue while Kane Williamson will miss the first two ODIs due to a shoulder issue. It remains to be seen how the absence of these players will affect the series.
Conditions –
As has been the case so far, it’s again a high scoring ground. The two teams played a T20 here last week and ended up on similar scores of 179. 233 is the average first innings score here in ODIs. West Indies registered the highest total on this ground – 363/4 – back in 2014. The captain winning the toss might bowl first.
Here is the likely playing XI of both the teams –
India:
Skipper Virat Kohli has confirmed a debut for Prithvi Shaw. He will be opening the innings with another debutant, Mayank Agarwal. Although Kohli didn’t confirm a debut for Mayank but he did announce that KL Rahul will bat in the middle-order.
Men in Blue are unlikely to ask Rishabh Pant to open the innings in the first ODI. Rishabh might sit out along with Shardul Thakur, Kedar Jadhav, Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube.
Likely playing XI: Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Shami
New Zealand:
The home team suffered a big blow with Williamson ruled out of the first two ODIs. Mark Chapman, his replacement, is unlikely to walk into playing XI straightaway. Tim Southee, who isn’t a confirmed selection in this format, should be back to lead the pace attack. Kyle Jamieson is likely to make his ODI debut in the opening game.
Likely playing XI: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson
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My dream11 team for IND vs NZ 1st ODI:
KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli (Captain), Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, James Neesham (Vice-Captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Ish Sodhi, Navdeep Saini