New Zealand vs. India 2nd & 3rd ODI 2026: Wellington and Hamilton Will Shape the Series

Introduction

Full preview of the New Zealand vs. India 2nd ODI (Wellington, Nov 7) and 3rd ODI (Hamilton, Nov 10), 2026, with timings, squads, key players, head-to-head record, and where to watch.

The India tour of New Zealand 2026 moves into a decisive phase. India, led by Shubman Gill, won the rain-affected opener at Eden Park, Auckland, by 5 wickets. The Blackcaps must now respond quickly, with two matches in four days at Wellington and Hamilton. Win both and the hosts take control of the five-match series. Lose both and India will be within touching distance of a series win before the contest moves to Mount Maunganui.

Match Details

2nd ODI: Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Hnry Stadium (Sky Stadium), Wellington.
3rd ODI: Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Both matches begin at 7:30 AM IST, which is 7:00 AM Pakistan time and 3:00 PM local time. The toss takes place 30 minutes before the start.

Series Context

India arrives in strong form. They won the five-match T20I series 3-2 and carried that confidence into the first ODI. New Zealand have good reasons to believe in themselves too, since they are looking to build on their historic bilateral ODI series win in India earlier this year. Each side has beaten the other in a series this year, so this is a rematch with real edge.

2nd ODI Preview: Wellington

India will aim for a 2-0 lead at Hnry Stadium. In the opener, Gill scored 37 while Rohit Sharma was out for a duck, so India’s senior batters will want bigger scores here. New Zealand will expect their batters to adapt faster to conditions and bring the series level.

Wellington is known for wind and fast-changing weather. That puts weight on the toss, on how well the bowlers use the breeze, and on which side handles the middle overs with more discipline. A team that controls the powerplay and avoids a mid-innings collapse will have a clear advantage.

3rd ODI Preview: Hamilton

The series then moves to Seddon Park, a ground that usually offers true bounce and short boundaries. Stroke-makers enjoy those conditions, and high totals are possible. If India leads 2-0, New Zealand will be playing to stay in the series. If the Blackcaps level in Wellington, Hamilton becomes a battle for momentum before the final two ODIs at Bay Oval.

Both games are also part of a busy schedule. India must manage workloads with two Tests to follow, and New Zealand must find a winning combination quickly.

Squads and Captaincy

India has named separate squads for the first three and final two ODIs. Gill captains India in the first three games, while T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer takes over for the last two. Gill and the Test specialists, including KL Rahul, are rested for the final two ODIs to prepare for the Tests. Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna will miss all five ODIs.

India (opening ODI XI): Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, and Arshdeep Singh.

New Zealand (first three ODIs): Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Will Young, and Blair Tickner. Always check the final XI at the toss, as late changes are possible.

Key Players to Watch

Shubman Gill (India): The captain sets the tone at the top of the order and will want to turn a start into a big score.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (India): Two of the most experienced batters in world cricket. One big innings from either can change the course of a match.

Arshdeep Singh (India): With Bumrah missing, his swing and death-over skills are vital to India’s attack.

Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips (New Zealand): Middle-order players who can rebuild an innings or finish it with power.

Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy (New Zealand): The pace pair who will try to remove India’s top order early.

Mitchell Santner (New Zealand): The captain and left-arm spinner provides control and tactical calm in the middle overs.

Head-to-Head Record

Before this series, India and New Zealand had played 123 ODIs. India won 63, New Zealand won 52, one ended in a tie, and seven had no result. India leads overall, but New Zealand’s series win earlier this year shows how close the rivalry is.

Where to Watch

In India, the matches are telecast live on the Sony Sports Network channels, with live streaming on the SonyLIV app and website. Viewers in Pakistan should check local listings for broadcasters in their region.

What Comes Next

After Wellington and Hamilton, the series moves to Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, for the 4th ODI on November 13 and the 5th ODI on November 15. Two Tests follow, so every ODI result carries extra weight for confidence and selection.

Final Word

India wants to build on their lead and show the depth of their squad. New Zealand wants to prove that their form against India this year was no one-off. Stay with Cricketinfo.online for live scores, playing XI, match reports, and player profiles for the 2nd and 3rd ODIs.