Sun Jan 11 08:10:00 UTC 2026: # India and New Zealand Commence ODI Series at Vadodara, New Zealand Elects to Bat

The Story:
India and New Zealand have kicked off their three-match One Day International (ODI) series at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on January 11, 2026. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. At the time of the report, New Zealand’s score stood at 13-0 after 4 overs, with Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls at the crease. This match marks India’s first international fixture of 2026 and is the first men’s international match to be hosted at Kotambi Stadium.

Key Points:

  • The first ODI between India and New Zealand is being played at the Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara on January 11, 2026.
  • New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat.
  • New Zealand’s opening score is 13-0 after 4 overs.
  • Kristian Clark made his ODI debut for New Zealand.
  • Aditya Ashok, a New Zealand player of Indian origin, is part of the New Zealand playing XI.
  • India’s playing XI includes: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj.
  • New Zealand’s playing XI includes: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell (Captain), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clark, Kyle Jamieson, and Aditya Ashok.
  • In 120 previous ODI matches between India and New Zealand, India has won 62 and New Zealand has won 50. 7 matches ended without a result and 1 match was a tie.

Key Takeaways:

  • India enters the series with a historical advantage in ODI matches against New Zealand.
  • The Kotambi Stadium is hosting its first men’s international match.
  • The inclusion of Aditya Ashok in the New Zealand squad adds an interesting dynamic, given his Indian heritage.
  • India has rested key players like Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Impact Analysis:

  • This series is important for both teams as they look to build momentum and refine their strategies for future international competitions. The result of this series can significantly impact the ODI rankings of both India and New Zealand. A strong performance in this series can also elevate the careers of emerging players like Harshit Rana and Kristian Clark. The opening of the Kotambi stadium also has long-term implications for cricket infrastructure in India.

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