India vs New Zealand ODI series: Ticket booking, prices and venues – all you need to know
The series has generated significant excitement, particularly as Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The first match of the three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place on January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Both teams have arrived in the city ahead of the series opener.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared photos of the Indian players taking part in their first practice session ahead of the much-anticipated series. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), the BCCI captioned the images:
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“New year, fresh start.
Glimpses from #TeamIndia’s first training session in Vadodara ahead of the #INDvNZ ODIs.”
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New year, fresh start
Glimpses from #TeamIndia‘s first training session in Vadodara ahead of the #INDvNZ ODIs @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/itTwA5fKDF
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 9, 2026
Senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to feature in the ODI series, having retired from Test and T20I cricket. The duo recently turned out in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which began last month, and made an immediate impact with the bat.
Kohli produced a commanding knock of 131 off 101 balls for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh on December 24, 2025, in Bengaluru. The innings also saw him become the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to cross 16,000 List A runs and also the fastest to do so, reaching the milestone in just 330 innings, compared to Tendulkar’s 391.
Rohit, meanwhile, smashed a sensational 155 off just 94 balls against Sikkim on December 24, 2025, including 18 fours and nine sixes. It was his fastest List A century, brought up in 62 balls, and earned him the Player of the Match award as Mumbai secured an eight-wicket win. However, the opener endured a contrasting outing in his second match of the tournament, where he was dismissed for a golden duck.
India’s ODI captain, Shubman Gill, is also in focus ahead of the series and arrived at Vadodara Airport on Wednesday. The 26-year-old received a warm welcome from fans and acknowledged them with a smile.
Gill, who was sidelined from India’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad, will be making his first international appearance since then. He featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy but had a disrupted start, missing the first match against Sikkim due to food poisoning before scoring 11 off 12 balls against Goa in the second match on January 6, 2026.
Despite recent challenges, Gill boasts an impressive record against New Zealand, having scored 623 runs in 12 matches, including two centuries and two half-centuries. He has not played an ODI since India’s tour of Australia last year, where he struggled for form and failed to cross the 30-run mark in three innings.
As he returns to the 50-over format, Gill will be keen to rediscover his rhythm against a New Zealand side that will be without their talisman, Kane Williamson.
Touchdown ✈️ Vadodara
Preps underway as #TeamIndia gear up for their first challenge of 2026 #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ryykzbrNCR
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 9, 2026
India vs New Zealand ODI squad
India’s squad:
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (VC – subject to fitness), KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand’s squad:
Michael Bracewell, Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, and Will Young.
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