The third and final One-Day International (ODI) of the New Zealand tour of India 2026 will be played on 18 January 2026 at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, with the series finely poised at 1–1. After both teams winning one match each, the decider promises a high-pressure contest with pride, momentum, and series victory on the line.
With confidence restored after a dominant win in the second ODI, New Zealand will look to complete a memorable away series triumph, while India aim to bounce back strongly in familiar conditions.
Match Details – 3rd ODI
Match: India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI
Date: 18 January 2026
Venue: Holkar Stadium, Indore
Series Status: Level 1–1 (Decider)
Series Context
India won the opening ODI with a successful chase, showcasing depth and experience. New Zealand responded emphatically in the second ODI with a composed run chase, underlining their adaptability and calm under pressure. With momentum swinging both ways, the final match is expected to be closely contested.
Pitch Report – Holkar Stadium, Indore
Holkar Stadium is traditionally known for:
Flat batting-friendly surface
Short boundaries
Fast outfield
High-scoring ODI matches
Captains winning the toss may prefer to bat first, aiming to put scoreboard pressure in a series decider.
India: Team News and Strategy
India are expected to trust their core group while focusing on better execution in the middle overs.
Key focus areas for India
Strong top-order partnerships
Tighter bowling in the middle overs
Converting starts into match-winning scores
Probable Playing XI – India
Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill (c)
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (wk)
Ravindra Jadeja
Washington Sundar
Harshit Rana
Kuldeep Yadav
Mohammed Siraj
Prasidh Krishna
New Zealand: Team News and Strategy
New Zealand will look to carry forward confidence from the Rajkot win.
Key focus areas for New Zealand
Solid starts at the top
Controlled middle-over bowling
Calm finishing in high-pressure moments
Probable Playing XI – New Zealand
Devon Conway
Henry Nicholls
Kane Williamson
Daryl Mitchell
Tom Latham (wk)
Glenn Phillips
Michael Bracewell
Mitchell Santner
Kyle Jamieson
Lockie Ferguson
Trent Boult
Players to Watch
Virat Kohli: Big-match temperament in deciders
KL Rahul: Consistency and finishing role
Daryl Mitchell: Match-winner in pressure chases
Trent Boult: New-ball impact
Match Outlook
With both teams evenly matched, the 3rd ODI is expected to be a high-scoring thriller. Execution under pressure, especially in the final 10 overs, will likely decide the series winner.
Note:- Image used is AI generated.