🏏 IND vs NZ | 3rd ODI 2026 – New Zealand Tour of India: Full Match Preview & Live Updates
The India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI on 18 January 2026 is one of the most anticipated fixtures in the New Zealand tour of India. The three-match ODI series is evenly poised at 1-1, making the final ODI a thrilling decider. India and New Zealand are among the top ODI teams globally, and this tour has already delivered big performances, stunning chases and historic moments. This blog breaks down everything you need to know — score updates, key players, past results, stats, and what can happen next in the series.
📍 Match Details – IND vs NZ 3rd ODI 2026
- Series: New Zealand tour of India 2025-26
- Match: 3rd ODI – Series Decider
- Date & Time: 18 Jan 2026, 01:30 PM IST
- Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, India
- Format: Day/Night ODI (50 overs)
- Toss: India won the toss and elected to field first (live info)
🔥 Live Match Status & Latest Updates
As of the latest live coverage:
- New Zealand in trouble early: NZ were 33/2 in 8 overs with Arshdeep Singh striking early in the game.
- By mid-innings: Kiwis recovered slightly to 104/3 in 21.3 overs, thanks to Daryl Mitchell’s resilience.
- Key moments so far: Indian pacers Harshit Rana and Arshdeep have provided early breakthroughs, while NZ’s middle order tries to stabilize.
- Fielding Highlight: Ravindra Jadeja pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Will Young — showcasing high fielding standards.
Note: The match is ongoing, and final result updates will come once the game completes. 🏆
📊 What Happened in the First Two ODIs?
1️⃣ First ODI – India Won
- India won the first ODI at Vadodara by 4 wickets in a competitive game.
- Virat Kohli starred with a brilliant 93, continuing his ODI dominance while reinventing his approach in this format.
- KL Rahul and Shubman Gill provided solid support to take India home.
2️⃣ Second ODI – NZ Levelled the Series
- In the second ODI at Rajkot, New Zealand pulled off a sensational chase of 285, their highest successful run chase in India.
- Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 131 off 117 and an incredible partnership with Will Young (87) powered NZ to victory.
- India’s bowlers struggled in the middle overs despite a fighting century from KL Rahul.
Series Score: India 1 – NZ 1
This sets up a winner-takes-all decider in Indore.
📈 Head-to-Head ODI Stats (India vs NZ)
Overall ODI record between these sides:
| 🏏 Format | Matches | India Wins | NZ Wins | Tied | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 122 | 63 | 51 | 0 | 7 |
At Holkar Stadium (Indore)
- India has an impeccable ODI record in Indore and has never lost an ODI here.
🌟 Key Players to Watch
🇮🇳 India
-
Virat Kohli: Continues to be India’s main batting anchor, with consistent scores and match-winning abilities.
- Shubman Gill: A young star with a strong record, especially at Holkar Stadium.
- Harshit Rana & Arshdeep Singh: Leading the bowling attack early in the decider.
- Ravindra Jadeja: Contributing with fielding, bowling and crucial lower order batting.
🇳🇿 New Zealand
- Daryl Mitchell: Key senior batter, already playing an incredible innings in this match.
- Will Young: Aggressive opener, critical for NZ’s run scoring.
- Glenn Phillips: Experienced all-rounder offering valuable middle order stability.
📅 Form & Momentum Going Into the Decider
India’s Recent ODI Form
- India have mixed form but strong home advantage.
- Lost the second ODI but showed resilience in the first.
- Home record remains impressive, boosting confidence.
New Zealand’s Momentum
- NZ came from behind to level the series.
- Defeated India in India for the first time in recent years, showcasing adaptability and hunger.
🧠 Predictions & What This Match Means
🏆 Series Decider
With the series tied, this match will decide the winner — giving both teams momentum into the upcoming T20I leg and future ICC events.
India’s Strengths
- Strong home conditions with spin/bounce assistance.
- Experienced batting lineup with world-class finishers.
- Aggressive bowling attack with wicket-takers up front.
NZ’s Strengths
- High-scoring ability chasing down targets.
- Seam bowlers and middle order resilience.
- Less pressure chasing compared to defending.
Predicted Key Scenarios
- NZ aim to chase again, exploiting Indian pitch conditions.
- India might win toss and field, hoping to restrict NZ early.
- Middle overs will be crucial — control here will likely determine the outcome.
📌 Why This Match Matters in 2026 Cricket Calendar
- Sets tone for India before major ICC events.
- Confidence booster for NZ — beating India away is always a massive achievement.
- Gives young players platform to perform under pressure.
🛠 Future Plans Post-3rd ODI
👉 India
- Head into a five-match T20I series, sharpening limited-overs skills ahead of the T20 World Cup.
- May experiment with batting order and spin options.
- Maintain strong home dominance.
👉 New Zealand
- Continue full tour with T20Is and provide international exposure to emerging players.
- Build pace attack depth ahead of major global fixtures.
- Assess fitness and workload ahead of future tours.
📣 How Fans Are Reacting
Cricket fans across India and NZ are glued to updates, with social media buzzing about:
📌 Kohli’s consistency 🧠
📌 NZ’s historic chase in Rajkot 🚀
📌 Decider excitement at Indore 🙌
This match is trending worldwide due to the quality of cricket and importance of the final ODI.
📍 Final Notes
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or casual viewer, this decider promises edge-of-the-seat cricket. India’s home advantage vs NZ’s fearless chase makes this one of the most exciting ODIs of the season.
Watch live, follow ball-by-ball commentary, and enjoy world-class cricket between two cricketing giants! 🏏