India has opted to bowl first after winning the toss against in the opening match of a five-match at Eden Park, Auckland.
Indian captain Shubman Gill expressed enthusiasm about the decision, stating, “It’s good to have a target on the board. We are very excited and ready for this series. The conditions here are quite similar to what we expect in South Africa.”
The playing XI features four young fast bowlers: Anshul, Aqib, Gurnoor, and Arshdeep Singh. While Arshdeep has extensive experience in T20 cricket, he has had limited opportunities in ODIs. This match presents a chance for him to solidify his place in the ODI squad. Naman Dheer and Aqib Nabi also have the opportunity to make their mark. Alongside the four pacers, the team includes spinners Axar Patel and Naman Dheer.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner remarked on the transition from T20 to ODI, saying, “It’s fun to start the ODI series after the T20 matches. Given the schedule for both teams, it has been a bit more than the usual rotation, allowing players to step up. Players are coming in and performing well.”
The New Zealand playing XI includes Tim Seifert, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, and Blair Tickner.
India’s lineup features Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Naman Dheer, Anshul Kamboj, Aqib Nabi, Gurnoor Barar, and Arshdeep Singh.