New Zealand tour of India 2026 – 3rd ODI Preview the series decider at Holkar Stadium, Indore. Get the pitch report, probable Playing XI, and match
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| India | New Zealand | |
| Rohit Sharma | Devon Conway (wk) | |
| Shubman Gill (c) | Will Young | |
| Virat Kohli | Henry Nicholls | |
| Shreyas Iyer | Daryl Mitchell | |
| KL Rahul (wk) | Glenn Phillips | |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Michael Bracewell (c) | |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Josh Clarkson | |
| Harshit Rana | Zak Foulkes | |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Jayden Lennox | |
| Arshdeep Singh | Kyle Jamieson | |
| Mohammed Siraj | Kristian Clarke |
Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
Time: 1:30 PM IST
The stage is set for a blockbuster finish to the ODI series as India takes on New Zealand in the third and final One Day International at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. With the series locked at 1-1, Sunday’s clash is a winner-takes-all encounter. The Men in Blue will be eager to assert their dominance at home, while a resilient, new-look New Zealand side eyes a historic series victory on Indian soil.
The Series So Far: A Tale of Two Halves
The series has been a rollercoaster of contrasting performances.
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1st ODI (Vadodara): India drew first blood with a clinical chase. Chasing a target of 301, the hosts rode on a masterful 93 from Virat Kohli and a composed 56 from captain Shubman Gill to win by 4 wickets. It was a record-extending 20th successful 300+ run chase for India in ODIs.
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2nd ODI (Rajkot): New Zealand roared back in style. despite a fighting century from KL Rahul (112*), India managed only 284/7. The Kiwis chased it down comfortably with 7 wickets in hand, powered by a spectacular unbeaten 131 from Daryl Mitchell and a solid 87 from Will Young.
Now, the caravan moves to Indore, a venue historically known as a graveyard for bowlers and a paradise for batters.
Team India: The Big Guns Must Fire
For India, the focus is squarely on the top order. While Shubman Gill has looked solid since his return to captaincy, and Virat Kohli nearly scored a century in the opener, Rohit Sharma has had a quiet series by his lofty standards (scores of 26 and 24). With no ODI cricket scheduled for India until July after this match, fans will be hoping for one last “Hitman” special before the IPL season takes over.
The middle order has found stability in KL Rahul, whose century in Rajkot was a masterclass in crisis management after a top-order collapse. However, the absence of Rishabh Pant (out due to injury) and Washington Sundar (side strain) has thinned the batting depth. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will need to step up with both bat and ball to balance the side.
Key Concern: The bowling unit struggled to break partnerships in Rajkot. Kuldeep Yadav and the pace trio of Siraj, Arshdeep, and Harshit Rana will need to be more disciplined against the sweeping prowess of the Kiwi batters.
New Zealand: The “Underdogs” Bite Back
This New Zealand side, missing stalwarts like Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, and Mitchell Santner, was expected to struggle. Instead, they have been a revelation under the leadership of Michael Bracewell. They have found heroes in every game, proving the incredible depth of their domestic system.
The standout performer has undoubtedly been Daryl Mitchell. He is currently the leading run-scorer of the series with 215 runs (average 215.00), having been dismissed just once. His ability to sweep the spinners and attack the pacers has been the difference between the two sides. Supporting him is Will Young, who has anchored the innings beautifully, and the fiery Kyle Jamieson, who has troubled the Indian top order with his steep bounce.
Venue & Pitch Report: Holkar Stadium
The Holkar Stadium is famous for its small boundaries and flat deck. It is one of the highest-scoring venues in India. The pitch is expected to be a belter, offering true bounce that batters trust.
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Average 1st Innings Score: ~320
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Conditions: The outfield is lightning fast. Dew is expected to play a major role in the evening, making the toss crucial. The captain winning the toss will almost certainly opt to bowl first to have the best batting conditions during the chase.
Key Player Battles to Watch
1. Virat Kohli vs Kyle Jamieson This has been the defining battle of the series. Jamieson’s height allows him to extract bounce even on flat tracks, a length that has historically troubled Kohli early in his innings. However, Kohli looked sublime in Vadodara and will be eager to win this contest in the decider.
2. Rohit Sharma vs The New Ball Rohit has gotten starts in both games but failed to convert them. On a small ground like Indore, if Rohit survives the first 10 overs against Zak Foulkes and Jamieson, he could take the game away from New Zealand single-handedly.
3. Daryl Mitchell vs Kuldeep Yadav Mitchell has neutralized India’s spin threat by relentlessly sweeping and using his feet. Kuldeep Yadav, India’s primary wicket-taking option in the middle overs, must find a way to deceive the Kiwi centurion, perhaps by bowling slower through the air or targeting the pads.
New Zealand tour of India 2026 – 3rd ODI
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel (or Harshit Rana), Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand: Devon Conway (wk), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy (or Kristian Clarke).
Conclusion
Sunday’s final is expected to be a high-scoring thriller. While India enters as favorites due to home conditions and a star-studded lineup, New Zealand has the momentum and the form players. In a game where 350 might just be a “par score,” the team that holds its nerve with the ball will lift the trophy.
