Making a combined India-New Zealand playing XI ahead of NZ vs IND 2026 ODIs ft. Virat Kohli, Mitchell Santner

India's tour of New Zealand moves to ODI cricket now after a well-contested five-match T20I series. The first of five ODIs will be held at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, and the series goes from Auckland to Wellington on November 7, Hamilton on November 10, and two games at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15.

Selection will look vastly different for both sides as the series progresses, as both India and New Zealand named split squads so their red-ball players can prepare for the two-Test series that begins at the Basin Reserve on November 19. India have also split the captaincy to share the workload, with Shubman Gill leading the first three games and Shreyas Iyer taking over for the last two, and leading in ODIs for the first time in his career.

Both sides also have injury and workload troubles ahead of the series. New Zealand recently ruled out both Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman due to injuries after being originally picked.

India, on the other hand, are without star players Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya for the upcoming series. The former has been rested for the Test series while the latter is recovering from an injury. Right-arm pacer Prasidh Krishna was also ruled out at the last minute, with Aaqib Nabi replacing him in the squad.

The following India-New Zealand combined playing XI assumes everyone is fit and available. It is to be noted that Nitish Kumar Reddy is only available for the first ODI, while Matt Henry is recovering from an injury he sustained during the T20I series.

On that note, let us take a look at the India - New Zealand combined playing XI ahead of the five-match ODI series.

#1 Top Order: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli

Shubman Gill, the No. 1-ranked ODI batter, is the first name on the sheet, and for good reason as well. He has 895 runs in 11 ODI innings this year at 111.87, a strike rate of 118.70, three centuries and five fifties. He heads into the series after a solid home series against West Indies, which included a record 223 off 133 balls in Guwahati, where India chased 406. The star batter was also named ICC's player of the month for his recent heroics with the bat. The upcoming tour marks a full-circle moment for him as he won the 2018 U-19 World Cup and made his international debut in New Zealand.

Rohit Sharma has had a tough year in a way while trying to prove his place in the side and constantly battling critics. However, his recent performances have apparently ended the debate. He has scored 604 runs in 12 innings this year at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 104.67. He maintained his form with 225 runs in the home series against West Indies, with 101 and 92 in the last two games of that series. The Hitman has had a mixed ODI record in New Zealand and will play a massive role against the new ball in the series.

Virat Kohli completes an all-India top-order in the playing XI. Much like Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, the ace veteran is also among the top five ranked ODI batters in the world. He had some lean outings towards the end of the home series against West Indies, including a golden duck in Mullanpur, but maintains an average of 69.00 and a strike rate of 117.94 this year. The former skipper also has a strong record in ODIs in New Zealand, scoring 596 runs at an average of 49.67 and a strike rate of 91.41.

#2 Middle Order: Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Nitish Kumar Reddy

New Zealand won a bilateral ODI series in India for the first time in January, 2-1, and the selectors have kept most of that group together. Daryl Mitchell is an integral part of the Blackcaps' batting setup as their highest-rated batter. The right-handed batter is ranked second on the list, placed only below Shubman Gill. He also has an impeccable record against India, scoring 741 runs in 11 innings at an average of 74.10 and four hundreds.

Tom Latham brings experience, ability to handle spin, orchestrate the middle overs, and a left-handed element to this batting unit. The wicket-keeper's match-ups against the likes of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will be instrumental in the series. The southpaw has had a decent year in ODIs so far, but has a tendency to step up against India. Like Mitchell, he also has a strong record against the Men in Blue, scoring 904 runs at an average of 45.20 and a strike rate of 92.43.

Glenn Phillips is in red-hot form after a historic T20I series against India, where he scored 341 runs across the five games, the most by any batter in a bilateral T20I series. In ODIs, he will play a key role in the middle overs, and he showed that in his last appearance in the format, which came against India, where he scored 106 off 88 balls in Indore. Moreover, his fielding and part-time off-spin add another dimension to the combined playing XI.

A genuine seam-bowling all-rounder like Nitish Kumar Reddy is always valuable in New Zealand, and he showed what he brings to the table with some decent performances in the T20I series. After impressing in Tests and T20Is in recent times, the middle ground of ODI cricket is what the youngster needs to unlock, especially if he wants to be considered for the ODI World Cup 2027, with or without Hardik Pandya.

With an economy of 7.41 and an average of 91.33 with the ball, Nitish Kumar Reddy needs good performances under his belt, and has the potential to deliver them.

#3 Lower Order: Mitchell Santner, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Matt Henry

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was among the best bowlers in a high-scoring T20I series against India, and he will hold the key for the hosts in the middle overs in ODIs. The left-arm spinner has only played five ODIs this year, but played a huge role in the series against West Indies. He also bats well enough to hold No. 8, and provide New Zealand with much-needed batting depth.

Kuldeep Yadav is the only specialist wrist spinner in India's squad, and he ended up without any game time in the five-match T20I series. However, the dynamic could change in the ODI series, especially since India lack match-winners with the ball in Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya's absence.

New Zealand is not traditionally kind to spinners, but Kuldeep Yadav, with his variations, could prove to be a reliable option that Shubman Gill can turn towards. The left-arm spinner had a horror series against the Blackcaps in India earlier this year, but has been in decent form of late.

Mohammed Siraj will be India's bowling spearhead in the series, and he will have an essential role across all phases of the innings, especially with the new ball, since New Zealand is a place where early movement is quite common. The right-arm pacer has been on and off the ODI setup in recent times, featuring in only seven matches since the start of 2025. However, an away series could be the perfect opportunity for him to remind everyone of what he brings to the side, and be an integral part of the side in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Matt Henry's place in the playing XI depends on a fitness call. New Zealand named him for the first three ODIs but said he would join the squad on Monday, with his availability to be assessed. If he is fit, he is the best new-ball bowler in either group: relentless on a length, able to move the ball off the seam, and a nightmare for the Indian top order in the past.

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