Team India takes on New Zealand in the first One-day International match against New Zealand to be played at famous Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai tomorrow. Virat Kohli led side trashed Australia 4-1 and would be looking to continue their winning streak. In 2016, New Zealand visited India for a 5 match ODI series as team India won the series 3-2.
It was a great performance for team India in the previous ODI series against Australia with Rohit Sharma and Rahane putting up solid opening partnerships. Shikhar Dhawan makes a comeback into the ODI squad. Despite Rahane scoring four half-centuries, Dhawan and Rohit Sharma is likely to open in first ODI in Mumbai.
Virat Kohli did not have a great series against Australia. His performance against New Zealand has been the brilliant scoring match-winning knocks in last year;s ODI series against New Zealand. The captain Virat Kohli would look to continue his brilliant form against Kiwis in the 1st ODI. Manish Pandey could not score many runs in the ODI series against Australia. If the right-handed batsman needs to stay in Indian team then he needs to score big runs. Kedar Jadhav got starts but could not convert starts into big scores in the ODI series would be at number 5.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was in good form during the ODI series against Australia. He played important knocks when team India required the most. He could bat according to the situation and helps team India to recover from bad positions.
Hardik Pandya the hard-hitting all-rounder played a key role in ODI series against Australia scoring 222 runs and 6 wickets. During the series, he batted at number 4 and played important knocks for team India. He is an ideal all-rounder going into the first ODI against New Zealand.
The Indian team bowling attack looked strong with Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the new ball, also controlling the run flow in death overs would be the two pacers. In the spin department, the two young spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav would be an automatic choice in first ODI against New Zealand. Both spinners picked wickets in the middle overs.
New Zealand has good openers in the form of Martin Guptill and Tom Latham. Guptill did not have a great ODI series against India last year. The two openers must provide a good start to the team if they are to put the Indian bowling attack under pressure. Captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor come at number 3, 4. They need to play the Indian bowlers with positive intent and solid technique.
New Zealand has experienced players at number 5,6 in the form of Collin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Geroge Worker and Collin de Grandhomme. Out of these 4 players, the New Zealand might select Collin Munro and Collin de Grandhomme. Glenn Phillps would be the wicketkeeper batsmen coming at number 7.
The bowling looks strong with the likes of Tim Southee and Trent Boult. These two experienced bowlers have the ability to swing new ball and could trouble the Indian batsmen. Ish Sodhi who replaced Todd Astle could trouble the Indian batting line would be the spin option with young Mitchell Santer.
The last ODI played at this ground was played in 2015 between India and South Africa. It is always a good batting pitch and both teams love to score big runs.
If team India wins the first One day international against New Zealand at Mumbai tomorrow then Virat Kohli led side would become the number 1 ranked ODI side in the World again.