NZ vs IND 1st ODI Prediction & Dream11 Tips – Eden Park 2026

Match Info and Where to Watch

This is the first of five ODIs. All matches are day-night fixtures starting at 3:00 PM local time. For Indian viewers, that means a 7:30 AM IST start.

Eden Park has a capacity of 41,000. The straight boundaries are famously short, which matters more than you might think for both betting and fantasy cricket.

Eden Park Pitch Report: What to Expect

Eden Park is not a neutral venue. It has a character, and that character favors batters.

The pitch is generally flat. The boundaries are short. The ball comes onto the bat nicely. During the fourth T20I at this ground, New Zealand posted 259/7 and then bowled India out for 172. That is a 87-run margin, and it tells you something about how quickly the game can swing here.

What the Numbers Say

The new ball will do something. There is swing available early, especially under cloudy Auckland skies. But once the ball gets older and the batters settle, the short boundaries become a factor. A top edge that would be caught at a normal ground can fly over the ropes here.

Weather Update: Will Rain Play Spoilsport?

This is the question every Indian fan asks before an early morning match in New Zealand.

According to AccuWeather, there is a 56% chance of rain in the morning in Auckland. That sounds worrying. But the match starts at 3:00 PM local time. The morning showers are expected to clear, and the afternoon and evening are forecast to remain largely clear.

Temperatures will hover around 19°C at the start of the match, dropping to roughly 17°C as the evening progresses. It will be chilly, but not unplayable.

Squads and Probable Playing XIs

Both teams are managing workloads ahead of the Test series. India has a split squad, and New Zealand is dealing with injuries.

India’s Probable XI

The top order is almost fixed. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill open. Virat Kohli comes in at three. Shreyas Iyer at four. KL Rahul keeps and bats at five. The bowling attack is where the questions are.

Kuldeep Yadav is available, but the team combination might leave him out. With no Hardik Pandya, India may prefer three seamers and Axar as the frontline spinner. Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly suggested Kuldeep may sit out.

New Zealand’s Probable XI

Devon Conway was ruled out with an injury a day before the series opener. That is a blow. Henry Nicholls or Tim Seifert will likely come in.

Daryl Mitchell is the danger man. He scored 352 runs in three ODIs against India earlier this year, including two centuries. His record against India is not an accident.

Dream11 Prediction: Captain, Vice-Captain, and Team

Fantasy cricket at Eden Park rewards aggressive batting and new-ball bowling. The short boundaries mean even mishits can clear the ropes. That changes how you pick your team.

Top Captaincy Picks

Vice-Captain Options

Budget Picks That Could Pay Off

Betting Prediction: Who Has the Edge?

India start as slight favourites. Their ODI form has been strong, and the return of Rohit and Kohli to the 50-over setup gives them a stability that the T20 side did not always have.

But New Zealand at Eden Park is not a pushover. They beat India here in the T20I series. They beat India in the ODI series at home earlier this year. And Daryl Mitchell has a habit of scoring big against this Indian attack.

Where the Match Could Turn

If you are looking to place a bet on this match, your existing Lotus365 Cricket Betting ID gives you access to pre-match and live markets. For a full breakdown of how the platform handles deposits and withdrawals, read our deposit guide and withdrawal guide before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions