INDORE, India — In a thrilling match at the Holkar Stadium, India’s captain Shubman Gill won the coin toss and decided to bowl first against New Zealand in the third and final One Day International (ODI) on January 18, 2026. The match holds significant importance as the series is currently tied at 1-1, with India having claimed the first ODI in Vadodara by four wickets, while New Zealand bounced back with a convincing seven-wicket victory in Rajkot.
In preparation for this match, India made a strategic change to their lineup, bringing in left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh to replace Prasidh Krishna. Meanwhile, New Zealand opted to field an unchanged team, aiming to secure their first ODI series victory on Indian soil, having previously lost all seven encounters in the country.
The pitch conditions at the Holkar Stadium are highly favorable for batting, with the prospect of tall scores due to the evening dew and short boundaries that benefit the chasing side. This sets the stage for an exciting contest.
In addition to today’s match, the Indian cricket team announced additions to their Twenty20 squad for the upcoming five-match series starting January 21 in Nagpur. Batter Shreyas Iyer and wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi have been included to replace the injured Tilak Verma and Washington Sundar.
As fans eagerly await the outcome of this decisive ODI, both teams are poised for an intense battle, highlighting the essence of competitive cricket at its finest.