New Zealand vs India Live Score: India in New Zealand, 5 ODI Series, 2026 Live Updates and Ball-By-Ball Commentary

India (Playing XI) - Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.

The captain of New Zealand - On losing the toss, Mitchell Santner says that it's probably just good calling from India. Adds that the pitch looks good and they hopefully they can put on a good score.

The skipper of India - Shubman Gill says that with little bit of overcast conditions, and in case of any reduction in overs, it's good to have a target on the board. Says everyone is excited for the series. Informs that they are going with four seamers and two all-rounders.

TOSS - It's time for the coin-flip now! Both the captains are out there, exchanging the team sheets.

UPDATE - 1.46 am GMT (7.16 am IST) - We have official confirmation of the revised schedule. The toss will now take place at 7.20 am IST, with play scheduled to begin at 7.40 am. We are finally set for some cricket in Auckland!

UPDATE - 1.37 am GMT - The covers are coming off now, and the two umpires are out in the middle to inspect the conditions. Things are looking promising, and we should hopefully have an update on the toss and start time shortly.

UPDATE - 1.30 am GMT - There is some good news from Auckland as the sun has finally come out, offering a bit of hope after the earlier drizzle. The toss has officially been delayed, but if the weather holds and there is no further rain, we shouldn't be too far away from getting things underway.

UPDATE - 1.16 am GMT - There has been a slight drizzle, and the pitch is currently under covers. The toss is not too far away, but looking at the conditions and the latest visuals, we could be in for a slight delay. We'll keep you updated as things develop.

Weather watch - Weather could have a say in this series opener, with rain forecast around Auckland throughout the day. Both teams will be hoping the showers stay away and the conditions allow for a full contest at Eden Park, as there is plenty to look forward to in this opening clash. Hopefully, the weather plays along and we get an uninterrupted game.

New Zealand looking for another edge - New Zealand come into the series knowing they have already shown they can trouble India in this format, having won their previous ODI series 2-1 in India earlier this year. Mitchell Santner will lead a side that has a good mix of experience and depth, although they have been hit by a few absences, with Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman unavailable and Devon Conway now ruled out of the opener after a training-ground collision. The conditions at Eden Park could add another layer, with a used surface, bounce and swirling winds expected to test both sides. Stay tuned for toss and other updates.

India bring experience back - India have plenty of experience returning to the ODI set-up, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in the side alongside captain Shubman Gill. The series also gives India an opportunity to assess their depth and combinations ahead of the World Cup, although the first three games will be particularly important with Gill, KL Rahul and Nitish Kumar Reddy set to leave after different stages of the series for Test preparations. India will also have to manage a less experienced bowling group, with Prasidh Krishna ruled out of the series.

A new chapter begins in Auckland - Hello and welcome to our coverage of the first ODI between New Zealand and India at Eden Park. After a closely fought T20I series that India won 3-2, the focus now shifts to the 50-over format, with both sides beginning preparations for next year's ODI World Cup. India will be looking to make a strong start, while New Zealand will be keen to carry forward the momentum from their recent success against India in this format.

... MATCH DAY ...

World Cup preparations gather pace - The appetiser of the T20Is is done, and India’s long tour of New Zealand now turns to the main course, which will be served in two sittings - the ODIs and the Tests. First up are the five ODIs, spread across Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui, with Auckland's Eden Park hosting the opener. With the World Cup less than a year away, these ODIs give both teams a chance to settle combinations and test depth. India have a score to settle - The T20I series was India’s, but New Zealand’s wins in the last two games have handed them some momentum. India have January’s 2-1 home defeat to avenge, while New Zealand arrive having won their previous 11 bilateral ODI series at home. Interestingly, the last side to beat them was India, back in 2019. Kiwis hit by injuries - Mitchell Santner continues to lead, but the hosts have had to rework their plans. The squad is split into two groups, with several players leaving after the third ODI to prepare for the Tests. Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman have been ruled out of the entire series, with Chapman requiring another two weeks of rehabilitation for his left hamstring injury, while Ravindra’s right shoulder needs more time to recover. The hosts suffered a further setback on the eve of the opener when Devon Conway and Matt Henry collided while going for a catch at training. Conway came off worse, taking a blow to the head, and has been ruled out of the first ODI. Opening question - Devon Conway’s absence from the opener leaves a spot vacant at the top, with Henry Nicholls and Tim Seifert the two contenders to partner Will Young. Nicholls has experience opening in ODIs, and he did that job earlier this year in India. Seifert has not opened in the format, but he is an attacking option who could make the most of the first Powerplay. Behind them, there is plenty of experience through the middle in Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. Mitchell is the man India will worry about most. He was Player of the Series in January, when New Zealand won their first-ever ODI series in India, and he has scored more ODI runs against India than against any other opposition, with 4 centuries in his last 7 innings against them. Phillips is the other one to watch. He struck three fifties and a century in the T20I series, with the ton coming here in Auckland, and could prove equally influential in the 50-over format. A versatile bowling attack - The seam attack is far more experienced than the one that played in January, when none of the bowlers had 50 ODI wickets. Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson, who are part of the squad for only the first three matches, will be important figures with the new ball. Henry was ruled out midway through the T20I series against India, and his readiness to play will be assessed in the lead-up to the opener. Jacob Duffy will be available throughout the series and has emerged as one of New Zealand’s most dependable wicket-takers, leading their ODI bowling charts over the past couple of years. Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner and Matthew Fisher provide further seam-bowling options. Lockie Ferguson will join the squad for the final two games, while Santner and Michael Bracewell will shoulder much of the spin responsibility. A top order in fine touch - Shubman Gill leads the side in the first three games before handing over to his deputy, Shreyas Iyer, for the final two as the players selected for the Test series leave to begin their preparations. Gill has been India’s standout batter in ODIs this year, topping the run charts with 8 fifty-plus scores in 11 innings. He is part of a formidable top order, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also crossing 500 runs in the format this calendar year. Rohit continues to show that he has plenty left in the tank, while Kohli has embraced a more positive approach without compromising on his consistency. The trio will once again form the backbone of India’s batting plans. India's options run deep - KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer give the middle order stability, while Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan and Naman Dhir give the visitors more options. Nitish Kumar Reddy will be part of the squad for the first ODI only, before he links up with the India A squad for the third four-day game against New Zealand A. In the spin department, India will rely on Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, with Dhir also an option to turn to. Pace options face a test - The Men in Blue continue to be without Jasprit Bumrah, as India are prioritising his availability for the Tests. They will also be without Prasidh Krishna, who failed to recover in time from a hamstring injury. The pace options for the tourists are Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi and Arshdeep Singh. Arshdeep’s left-arm angle gives India a different dimension, and the younger seamers have a chance to stake their claims for a place in the ODI squad. Siraj also featured for India A in the second four-day game against New Zealand A, so it remains to be seen how much of a role he plays in the ODI series. Form (Last 5 completed ODIs, most recent first) - NZ - LWWWL | IND - LWWLL. A tricky proposition for bowlers - Eden Park is not quite your conventional cricket ground. It is a multi-purpose stadium that regularly switches between cricket and rugby, and even hosted a few matches during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. That gives it a rather unusual shape for a cricket venue, with its rectangular layout resulting in some very short straight boundaries. As a result, bowlers have very little room for error. India got a taste of that in the fourth T20I, when New Zealand hammered 259, their highest-ever T20I total, before handing the visitors an 87-run defeat. With the dimensions favouring the big hitters, both bowling attacks will need to be particularly sharp with their execution. It all makes for a fascinating start to the ODI series. Who are you backing to come out on top?