Sports · Cricket · 7 hrs ago
India begin five-match New Zealand ODI series as World Cup preparation
India begin a five-match ODI series in New Zealand on November 4 as they prepare for next year’s ODI World Cup.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are central to that preparation, with both now playing international cricket only in the ODI format.
They retired from Test cricket last year and stepped away from T20 internationals after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
India have rarely played five-match ODI series recently: their previous one was in 2018-19, before the last ODI World Cup.
New Zealand have often been a difficult opponent for India, including in major tournament defeats and a 3-0 Test series win in India in 2024.
The five games are a key test of Kohli and Sharma’s World Cup prospects, and the sources say India have no other bilateral five-match ODI series scheduled before the tournament.
India’s five-match ODI series against New Zealand begins on November 4 at Auckland’s Eden Park.
The series is part of India’s preparation for next year’s ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are in focus as they seek to strengthen their cases for the tournament.
India last played a five-match ODI series in 2018-19, ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
The ODI series follows a five-match T20I series, which India won 3-2.
- Who
- India and New Zealand, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in focus.
- What
- They begin a five-match ODI series as India prepares for next year’s ODI World Cup.
- When
- The first ODI is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
- Where
- Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
- Why
- The series is part of India’s preparation for next year’s ODI World Cup.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
India last played a five-match ODI series, in the build-up to the 2019 ODI World Cup.
India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand ended.
India are scheduled to begin the five-match ODI series at Eden Park in Auckland.
- ODI series
- Five matches
- Opening venue
- Eden Park, Auckland
- World Cup preparation
- 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia
- Previous five-match ODI series
- 2018-19
- T20I series result
- India won 3-2
3 sources
What people are saying
It’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India, and that is my motivation - to leave everything out there
The goal is absolutely to win the World Cup. And whatever it takes, whatever it takes, I’m absolutely ready.