India and New Zealand begin a five-match ODI series at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The contest follows a 3-2 T20I series and brings Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back into focus. Here are the date, timings, venue and squad context.
India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Date, Time and Venue
The first ODI is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Eden Park in Auckland. The match starts at 3:00 p.m. local time (NZDT), which is 7:30 a.m. IST.
All five ODIs in the series begin at the same time. That makes the schedule predictable for viewers across time zones.
India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Match Snapshot| Detail | Information |
|---|
| Fixture | New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI |
| Date | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 |
| Venue | Eden Park, Auckland |
| Start time (local) | 3:00 p.m. NZDT |
| Start time (India) | 7:30 a.m. IST |
| Series length | 5 ODIs |
Match Timings Across Time Zones
The 3:00 p.m. NZDT start equals 02:00 UTC. The table below converts that into several major time zones, based on standard offsets in early November.
First ODI Start Time by Region| Region | Local Start Time |
|---|
| New Zealand (NZDT) | 3:00 p.m., November 4 |
| Australia (Sydney, AEDT) | 1:00 p.m., November 4 |
| India (IST) | 7:30 a.m., November 4 |
| Pakistan (PKT) | 7:00 a.m., November 4 |
| UAE (GST) | 6:00 a.m., November 4 |
| South Africa (SAST) | 4:00 a.m., November 4 |
| United Kingdom (GMT) | 2:00 a.m., November 4 |
| US East Coast (EST) | 9:00 p.m., November 3 |
Series Context: A Rare Five-Match ODI Format
This is described as India's first five-match ODI series since the 2018/19 Australia tour of India, which the visitors won 3-2. Five-game bilateral ODI series have become less common, so the format gives a larger sample for performance trends.
The series follows a five-match T20I contest. India won the first three games before New Zealand took the last two, leaving momentum a talking point heading into the 50-over leg.
Series Schedule and Venues
The teams move from Auckland to Wellington and Hamilton. The series then ends with two matches at Bay Oval in Tauranga.
Venue Sequence for the ODI Series| Match | Venue |
|---|
| 1st ODI | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2nd ODI | Wellington |
| 3rd ODI | Hamilton |
| 4th ODI | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
| 5th ODI | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Return
Rohit and Kohli now feature only in ODIs after retiring from T20Is and Tests. Their availability makes this format their only international stage.
Both played the three-match home series against the West Indies. Rohit scored 225 runs in that series, while Kohli made an unbeaten 139 for his 55th ODI century.
Recent ODI Output Against the West Indies| Player | Series Metric | Value |
|---|
| Rohit Sharma | Runs in 3-match series | 225 |
| Virat Kohli | Highest score | 139 not out |
| Virat Kohli | ODI century count | 55th |
Why These Numbers Matter
Rohit's 225 runs across three matches average 75 per innings played. That figure is a simple per-match output and does not account for not-outs.
Kohli's 139 not out is a large unbroken innings, showing he can anchor an innings through the middle overs. Both numbers give useful form markers before the New Zealand series.
Captaincy and Squad Changes
Shubman Gill leads India in the first three ODIs. Shreyas Iyer takes over for the last two, when wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra also joins the group.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jasprit Bumrah are part of the Test squad only. Their absence from the ODI group shapes India's top-order and pace-attack options.
India Leadership Plan by Match| ODIs | Captain |
|---|
| 1st to 3rd | Shubman Gill |
| 4th and 5th | Shreyas Iyer |
Where to Watch the First ODI
Broadcast and streaming rights differ by country. Viewers should check their local sports broadcasters and official streaming platforms for confirmed coverage.
With a 7:30 a.m. IST start, Indian fans can follow the opening ODI from the first ball in the morning. Every match in the series uses the same start time.
Key Takeaways
The opener is set for Eden Park on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. NZDT. Rohit and Kohli return, and a rotating captaincy plan sits across the five matches.
The T20I series ended 3-2 in India's favour, but that result offers limited guidance for a different format. The ODI series will test India's depth over five games.