NZ vs IND Match Prediction : 3rd ODI, India tour of New Zealand 2026

New Zealand face India in the third ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on November 10, with the visitors already holding a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. India have won both opening matches, although the second encounter in Wellington was a closely fought, rain-affected contest decided by the DLS method.

The hosts are under pressure to respond, but India will be looking to wrap up the series with another victory.

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Head-to-Head Record

India hold a narrow edge in the recent rivalry, winning three of the last five meetings, including the first two matches of this tour.

New Zealand Preview

New Zealand have been disappointing with the bat in the opening two ODIs, and their top order needs to take greater responsibility in Hamilton. Will Young, Tim Seifert and Henry Nicholls have all struggled to provide substantial starts, while Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips have also failed to make meaningful contributions. Daryl Mitchell has been the standout batter, scoring 28 in Auckland before making 55 in Wellington.

Mitchell Santner has offered some support lower down the order, but the hosts cannot continue relying on their middle and lower order to rescue difficult situations. The absence of Devon Conway, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the series following a concussion, is another setback. Nick Kelly has been brought into the squad as his replacement, while Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman are also unavailable because of injuries. New Zealand need a more disciplined approach against the new ball, particularly against India's fast bowlers.

The bowling attack has shown enough quality to keep New Zealand competitive, even when defending relatively modest totals. Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy were outstanding in Wellington, taking three wickets apiece and putting India under considerable pressure during the chase. Matt Henry's return to the side has also strengthened the pace attack, while Nathan Smith and Matthew Fisher provide further options.

Santner and Michael Bracewell offer control through spin, with Glenn Phillips capable of contributing a few overs when required. The challenge will be to maintain that bowling intensity while giving the attack a defendable total. New Zealand's bowlers have already shown that they can trouble India's top order, but they need their batters to give them something to work with.

Predicted Playing XI

India Preview

India have looked the more balanced side throughout the opening two matches, with their bowling attack doing much of the damage. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will be expected to provide a solid start, while Virat Kohli remains one of the most important players in the batting line-up. Kohli scored a valuable 74 in the opening ODI and will be looking to continue his good form. Shreyas Iyer has also contributed, making 30 in Wellington, while KL Rahul's unbeaten 26 helped India negotiate a difficult chase in the second match.

Axar Patel and Naman Dhir provide middle-order depth, and the team has enough batting quality to post a competitive total even if one of the senior batters fails. India could consider a minor adjustment to their combination, particularly with the series moving towards its latter stages, but they are unlikely to make wholesale changes while the series remains active.

India's pace attack has been particularly impressive, with Gurnoor Brar emerging as a major talking point after his four-wicket haul in Wellington. He has demonstrated the ability to generate steep bounce and trouble New Zealand's batters, while Arshdeep Singh has provided control and early breakthroughs.

Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj have also contributed with important wickets, giving India several options in the pace department. Kuldeep Yadav remains a valuable spin option and could be considered depending on the conditions at Hamilton, while Axar Patel offers control and all-round flexibility. India's ability to take wickets with the new ball has been a major reason for their success, and they will look to repeat that performance against a New Zealand batting line-up that has struggled for consistency.

When we state our final lean below, you can also browse our broader methodology and picks on our cricket predictions page.

Predicted Playing XI

Toss Prediction

We expect the captain winning the toss to bowl first. Chasing should feel more controllable given recent batting form trends and the ability to pace an innings with set anchors.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

Seddon Park in Hamilton generally offers a well-grassed surface with good bounce and carry, although the conditions can provide assistance to fast bowlers. The average first-innings ODI score at the venue is approximately 229–240, depending on the historical sample used, making it a relatively balanced ground rather than an outright batting paradise. Recent matches have also shown that the pitch can be challenging for batters, particularly when there is moisture around.

Pace bowlers have traditionally taken a significant share of the wickets, which should suit India's in-form seam attack and New Zealand's experienced fast bowlers.

The forecast points to cool conditions around 16 degrees Celsius with very high humidity and broken clouds. Light winds and moderate cloud cover should keep conditions steady through the day without extreme influence on one discipline.

Our Prediction

India are our favourites to win the third ODI and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. The visitors have been more disciplined with both bat and ball, and their fast bowlers have consistently exposed New Zealand's problems against pace. Gurnoor Brar's emergence has added another dimension to India's attack, while Arshdeep Singh and Auqib Nabi have also made valuable contributions.

We also think it is just a matter of time before India's strong batting lineup fires to its potential.

Bet on India to win.