NZ vs IND Match Prediction : 5th ODI, India tour of New Zealand 2026

New Zealand take on India in the fifth and final ODI of the India tour of New Zealand 2026 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on November 15. India lead the series 2-1 after winning the opening two matches, but New Zealand have brought the contest back to life with a stunning 244-run victory in the fourth ODI.

India will be keen to finish the tour with a series victory, while the hosts will look to level the contest and carry momentum into their next assignment.

Bettors will note India’s superior recent results and several in-form match-winners. If you are comparing prices across the market, use our live cricket odds overview before you place a stake.

Head-to-Head Record

India hold the clear edge with three wins and one no-result from the last five meetings, while New Zealand have managed one. The trend favors India in recent clashes, and the current series scoreline reinforces that momentum.

New Zealand Preview

New Zealand will be encouraged by their performance in the fourth ODI, particularly the way their top order handled India's bowling attack. Will Young was outstanding, scoring 125 from 108 deliveries and anchoring the innings with excellent control. Tim Seifert provided an aggressive start with 58 from 48 balls, while Finn Allen added 41 from just 30 deliveries. The combination of Young's composure and Allen's attacking intent gives New Zealand a useful opening option, although the final batting order could depend on the role assigned to Seifert and Nick Kelly.

Dean Foxcroft and Michael Bracewell provide additional middle-order options, while Mitchell Santner offers experience and useful lower-order batting. The hosts will miss several established players who have moved on to prepare for the upcoming Test series, including Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Glenn Phillips. Nevertheless, their younger players have shown that they can take responsibility, and another strong contribution from Young will be central to their chances.

The bowling attack faces a significant challenge following the departure of Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson for Test preparations. Henry was the standout performer in the previous match, taking 6/27, while Jamieson provided valuable support with his height and ability to extract bounce. Jacob Duffy is expected to lead the remaining pace options, with Matt Fisher, Kristian Clarke and Brett Randell providing alternatives. Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell will be important in the middle overs, particularly if the surface offers some assistance to spin.

The absence of Henry is a major blow, but New Zealand have enough bowling depth to remain competitive if Duffy and the other seamers make early inroads. Their biggest advantage is familiarity with Bay Oval, where they have just produced one of their strongest performances of the series. The hosts will need to maintain their discipline with the new ball and avoid allowing India's experienced batters to rebuild after the previous match.

Predicted Playing XI

India Preview

ndia will be looking for a much stronger batting performance after being dismissed for just 89 in the fourth ODI. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were both dismissed for ducks in the opening over, while captain Shreyas Iyer also fell without scoring. The experienced pair of Rohit and Kohli will be crucial to India's chances in the final match, particularly with the new ball expected to offer some movement. Ruturaj Gaikwad is likely to open alongside Rohit, while Kohli will provide stability at number three.

Iyer will be keen to make a contribution after his disappointing outing, and Ishan Kishan offers an attacking option in the middle order. Axar Patel and Naman Dhir can provide additional batting depth, while Tilak Varma and Kumar Kushagra are further options within the squad.

India have enough quality to produce a strong response, but they must show greater patience against New Zealand's seamers. Losing three wickets in the opening over again would put the visitors under enormous pressure.

India's bowling combination will be significantly affected by the latest squad developments. Gurnoor Brar has been called into India's Test squad and will miss the final ODI, despite being the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing series. Brar has taken nine wickets in the three completed matches, with returns of 3/44, 4/30 and 2/69. His absence is therefore a considerable setback for India's attack.

Mohammed Siraj could finally get an opportunity after travelling with the ODI squad for the first four matches without being selected. Arshdeep Singh and Auqib Nabi are other pace options, while Axar Patel is likely to carry greater responsibility in the spin department. India will need to find a way to replace Brar's wicket-taking contribution, particularly against Will Young and Tim Seifert, who built a strong opening platform in the previous match.

Predicted Playing XI

Toss Prediction

The captain winning the toss may prefer to bowl first. Bay Oval can offer movement to the seamers early in the innings, and chasing sides have enjoyed a slight advantage at the venue.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

Bay Oval offers a generally good batting surface, but the new ball can move considerably, particularly under the conditions expected during the early overs. The fourth ODI demonstrated how difficult batting can become when the seamers find the right length, with Matt Henry exploiting the movement to devastating effect. However, New Zealand's total of 333 also showed that batters can score freely once they settle. The average first-innings score at the venue is around 238, although the quality of the batting on both sides can produce a higher total.

The forecast calls for clear skies with cool temperatures around 12 degrees Celsius, light winds, and minimal cloud cover, which should favor a full game.

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Our Prediction

The visitors have the advantage in the series and possess a more experienced batting line-up capable of responding after the heavy defeat. New Zealand will be dangerous at Bay Oval, but the absence of Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson gives India an opportunity to regain control.

For a fuller rationale behind our pick, visit our latest match predictions and tips.

Bet on India to win.