In a strategic move to leverage the early conditions, Indian captain Shikhar Dhawan won the crucial toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the first One Day International. The match is being played at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
Toss Outcome and Team Decisions
Stand-in skipper Shikhar Dhawan called correctly at the coin toss, giving his team the immediate advantage of deciding the course of the game. Without hesitation, Dhawan invited the visiting New Zealand side to set a target by batting first. This decision is often influenced by the pitch conditions and the potential for the ball to move under lights or in the early moisture.
New Zealand's captain, Tom Latham, who is leading the side in the absence of the regular captain, stated he would have likely made the same choice. "We would have bowled first as well," Latham admitted at the toss, indicating a consensus on the nature of the playing surface.
Playing XIs and Key Team Changes
Both teams revealed their line-ups for this series opener. The Indian team, missing several senior players who are rested, fielded a mix of experience and fresh talent.
India's Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Umran Malik.
New Zealand's Playing XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Lockie Ferguson, and Blair Tickner.
A notable inclusion for India is the young pace sensation Umran Malik, whose raw speed adds a new dimension to the bowling attack. For New Zealand, the experienced pace duo of Lockie Ferguson and the relatively new Henry Shipley will lead the bowling charge.
Series Context and Venue Details
This match marks the beginning of a three-match ODI series between the two cricketing nations. The action then moves to Raipur for the second ODI on January 21, followed by the final match in Indore on January 24. The Reliance Stadium in Vadodara, formerly known as the IPCL Sports Complex Ground, has a history of producing competitive ODI matches.
The Indian team will be looking to build momentum with a victory at home, while New Zealand, known for being formidable opponents in white-ball cricket, aims to start the tour on a winning note. All eyes will be on how the Indian batting order, featuring the likes of Virat Kohli and the in-form Shubman Gill, chases down or sets a total.
The decision to bowl first puts immediate pressure on the Indian bowling unit to deliver early breakthroughs. The performance of Mohammed Siraj with the new ball and the spin combination of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar in the middle overs will be critical to restricting the Kiwi batters.
