This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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This will be India’s first tour of New Zealand after Sachin Tendulkar has retired. The last time India travelled to Kiwi land, Sachin Tendulkar was a crucial member of the ODI team. Sehwag, Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh were in their pomp. This time, as New Zealand host India for the 7th time, Sachin Tendulkar has retired from International cricket. And the other three, have been left out of the team due to their poor form.
| Series | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Winner |
| India in New Zealand ODI series, 2008/09 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | India |
| India in New Zealand ODI series, 2002/03 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | New Zealand |
| India in New Zealand ODI series, 1998/99 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Drawn |
| India in New Zealand ODI series, 1993/94 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Drawn |
| India in New Zealand ODI series, 1980/81 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | New Zealand |
| India in New Zealand ODI series, 1975/76 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | New Zealand |
| Matches |
Won by India |
Won by New Zealand |
Tied |
NR |
|
| Overall | 88 | 46 | 37 | 0 | 5 |
| In New Zealand | 29 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 2 |
Since India’s last tour to New Zealand, India’s ODI batting unit has gone through a significant change. While Rohit Sharma, Dhoni and Raina have played in New Zealand before, their experience is about 2, 5 and 5 games respectively. Kohli, Dhawan, Jadeja and Rahane have not played in New Zealand before. This lack of experience could be troublesome. But Kohli, Dhoni, Dhawan and Rohit Sharma had displayed a superb batting form for a major part of 2013. The same can’t be said about Suresh Raina. He has struggled to score heavily throughout last year. Hence, it is almost certain that if he does not do well in New Zealand, he would be replaced from India’s ODI team. To his benefit, the grounds in New Zealand are not too big. So, he can score more runs. But barring him, the form of other Indian batsmen should not be a cause of concern for skipper Dhoni.
| Player |
Mat |
Inns |
NO |
Runs |
HS |
Ave |
BF |
SR |
100 |
50 |
0 |
4s |
6s |
| V Kohli | 34 | 30 | 6 | 1268 | 115* | 52.83 | 1300 | 97.53 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 137 | 20 |
| R Sharma | 28 | 27 | 4 | 1196 | 209 | 52 | 1480 | 80.81 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 119 | 30 |
| S Dhawan | 26 | 25 | 2 | 1162 | 119 | 50.52 | 1187 | 97.89 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 146 | 9 |
| S Raina | 34 | 27 | 5 | 770 | 89* | 35 | 911 | 84.52 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 66 | 10 |
| MS Dhoni | 26 | 20 | 8 | 753 | 139* | 62.75 | 784 | 96.04 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 67 | 24 |
| R Jadeja | 34 | 21 | 8 | 462 | 61* | 35.53 | 571 | 80.91 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 13 |
| A Rahane | 6 | 6 | 0 | 113 | 50 | 18.83 | 169 | 66.86 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| A Rayudu | 4 | 3 | 1 | 101 | 63* | 50.5 | 163 | 61.96 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| S Binny (List A) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4* | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Indian selectors have picked 5 specialist medium pace bowlers for New Zealand tour. Considering, Stuart Binny can roll his arm; the number goes up by a digit. But he and Ishwar Pandey have no experience to play International cricket. Varun Aaron, who replaced Umesh Yadav has not played for India since last three years due to an injury. Ishant Sharma is the most experienced bowler in this Indian team. But his failure to grow as a bowler has not served India well. But India can find hope in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami. These two swing bowlers have not done too badly in their limited exposure to International cricket. Considering, the conditions in New Zealand are more swing friendly, they could be the key bowlers for India. India have included Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin as their specialist spinner. But with Jadeja having proven his worth in 50 overs cricket, his place in the playing XI is secured. Hence, Mishra would end up warming the bench for the major part of the ODI series.
| Player | Mat | Inns | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR | 4 | 5 |
| R Jadeja | 34 | 34 | 303.3 | 22 | 1321 | 52 | 5/36 | 25.4 | 4.35 | 35 | 1 | 1 |
| R Ashwin | 29 | 29 | 259.5 | 6 | 1353 | 40 | 3/39 | 33.82 | 5.2 | 38.9 | 0 | 0 |
| I Sharma | 22 | 22 | 176.2 | 14 | 993 | 35 | 4/40 | 28.37 | 5.63 | 30.2 | 1 | 0 |
| M Shami | 20 | 20 | 167.1 | 13 | 902 | 30 | 3/42 | 30.06 | 5.39 | 33.4 | 0 | 0 |
| B Kumar | 25 | 25 | 203 | 25 | 948 | 28 | 4/8 | 33.85 | 4.66 | 43.5 | 1 | 0 |
| A Mishra | 6 | 6 | 57.3 | 2 | 287 | 18 | 6/48 | 15.94 | 4.99 | 19.1 | 1 | 1 |
| S Binny (List A) | 4 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 116 | 5 | 4/55 | 23.2 | ||||
| I Pandey (List A) | 2 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 123 | 5 | 4/76 | 24.6 |
The analysis of ICC ODI team ranking states that India would lose the number one ODI team status if they fail to win this series against New Zealand. But that prospect should not threaten India; considering their much improved ODI record in the recent times.
Key players : Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Mohammad Shami
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