India will face New Zealand in the 3rd ODI of the three-match series on January 18, 2026, at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. The series is tied at 1-1, which makes this match a series decider. India won the first game by 4 wickets in Vadodara, while New Zealand bounced back with a 7-wicket victory in Rajkot.
This is a do-or-die match for both teams. India has never lost an ODI series to New Zealand at home. The Black Caps will aim to change history by winning their first ODI series in India. Daryl Mitchell has been in brilliant form and scored 131* in the last match. KL Rahul also hit a century for India but ended up on the losing side.
This article gives you a detailed Dream11 prediction with match details, head-to-head records, and top player picks for this exciting decider.
India vs New Zealand Match 3 Preview
Indore will host the final ODI of this three-match series. The match starts at 1:30 PM IST on January 18. Both teams have won one game each. India will rely on home advantage, while New Zealand enters with momentum after their convincing win in Rajkot.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs New Zealand, Match 3 |
| Date | 18 January 2026 (Saturday) |
| Time | 1:30 PM IST | Toss at 1:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore |
| Series | New Zealand Tour of India 2026 |
The third ODI is the final assignment for India in the 50-over format before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. They will want to finish on a high note. New Zealand has been in great form lately, winning four of their last five ODI matches.
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Good batting surface with pace and bounce |
| Average Score | Around 330 runs in ODIs |
| Favors | Batters have scored freely in ODIs here |
| Surface | True bounce, records in timely fashion |
| Spin or Pace | Both are effective. Spinners avg 29.37 |
| Pace Factor | Teams batting first have won 50% matches at Indore |
The pitch at Holkar Stadium is high-scoring. It offers flat batting conditions with short boundaries. The square boundaries are only 56 meters. Pacers can get some swing with the new ball in the first few overs. Spinners get grip in the middle overs as the surface dries up. Expect a high-scoring match at this venue.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 26-29°C (expected) |
| Humidity | Moderate humidity (40-45%) |
| Wind Speed | Light breeze expected |
| Rain Chance | Clear conditions expected |
| Overall | Hot afternoon, good for cricket |
Toss Prediction
Teams winning the toss at Indore often choose to bowl first. The chasing side gets an advantage as batting becomes easier in the evening. Dew can make it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball in the second innings. The captain who wins the toss may choose to field first and set a target under lights with better batting conditions.
Injury Updates
India: Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the entire series due to a left lower rib injury. He suffered this injury while bowling in the first ODI at Vadodara. Ayush Badoni has been called up as his replacement.
New Zealand: No major injury concerns reported.
Dream11 Team For India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Records
India and New Zealand have played against each other 120+ times in ODI cricket. India holds the upper hand in the head-to-head record.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches | 118 |
| India Wins | 57 |
| New Zealand Wins | 50 |
| No Result | 11 |
India has won the most ODI series played in India against New Zealand. The Black Caps have never won an ODI series on Indian soil. This match offers them a chance to create history.
Last Five Matches
- New Zealand won by 7 wickets (with 15 balls remaining) 14-Jan-2026
- India won by 4 wickets (with 6 balls remaining) 11-Jan-2026
- India won by 4 wickets (with 6 balls remaining) 09-Mar-2025
- India won by 44 runs 02-Mar-2025
- India won by 70 runs, 15-Nov-2023
Suggested Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 418 runs in last 05 ODIs at avg 104.05. Scored 93 in the first match |
| Daryl Mitchell (NZ) | 215 runs in this series at avg 114.60. Hit 131* in 2nd ODI |
| KL Rahul (IND) | 141 runs in this series. Scored 8th ODI century in the 2nd match |
| Kyle Jamieson (NZ) | 5 wickets in this series at avg 23.0. Troubled Kohli in 1st ODI |
| Kuldeep Yadav (IND) | 14 wickets in last 8 ODIs at economy 5.90 |
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