India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI Match Prediction, Preview, Betting Tips, and Who will win today’s match?

India and New Zealand square off in the series decider at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, on January 18, 2026, with the three-match ODI series locked at 1-1. After India’s comfortable win in Vadodara, New Zealand bounced back brilliantly in Rajkot with their highest successful chase on Indian soil, setting up this winner-takes-all finale. Both teams head into Indore with momentum from their respective victories and key players in form – Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have delivered for India, while Daryl Mitchell has been unstoppable for the visitors with back-to-back big scores. Let’s Break down with expert analysis, betting insights, team performance, pitch report, and our IND vs NZ 3rd ODI match prediction. Who will win today’s match?

Team Performance

India Cricket Team Preview & Performance

India’s batting unit is looking sharper as the series progresses. Virat Kohli’s 93 in Vadodara showed he’s still got that chase master quality, while Shubman Gill’s 56 provided solid support. In Rajkot, KL Rahul took charge with an unbeaten 112 – proper anchoring stuff that got them to a defendable 284. The batting depth is there, and different guys are putting their hands up when needed.

The bowling department tells a different story though. The pace attack – Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna – has been effective with the new ball. They’ve consistently picked up early wickets and created pressure. Problem is, once that initial burst passes, they’ve struggled. Kuldeep Yadav’s expensive bowling in Rajkot, where he leaked 82 runs, exposed a real vulnerability. When batsmen get set on these pitches, India’s spinners haven’t been able to apply the brakes. That’s worrying going into a decider.

Still, with the batting firing and the pace attack looking sharp upfront, India head into Indore with genuine weapons. They just need their spin department to find some control.

New Zealand cricket Team Preview & Recent Performance

New Zealand’s batting has genuinely grown in confidence. First match, they put up 300 with contributions from Conway, Nicholls, and Mitchell – decent but not dominant. Rajkot was a completely different beast. Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 131 was a masterclass in pacing an ODI chase, and Will Young’s 87 showed proper application under pressure. That 162-run stand wasn’t just about runs – it was about controlling the game, reading the conditions, and executing a plan. The way they tackled spin, especially with those sweep shots, showed smart cricket.

The bowling has been the revelation though. First match, they looked green and got taken apart. By Rajkot, there was clear improvement in planning and execution. Jayden Lennox, the debutant spinner, bowled with real discipline – 18 runs in 5 overs on a batting deck is quality stuff. Kristian Clarke’s 3 wickets showed they’ve got variety in the attack. The bowling unit suddenly looks cohesive rather than scattered.

New Zealand are riding genuine momentum here. Their batting’s clicking, bowlers are finding their lengths, and there’s belief in the group after that chase.

IND vs NZ Today’s ODI Match Weather Condition:

• Temperature: 19-26°C
• Humidity: 52%
• Rain: 0% Rain of chance
• Wind direction: NE
• Wind speed: 9.4KPH

Also, check live IND vs NZ 3rd ODI Match betting odds on trusted cricket betting sites.

IND vs NZ Today’s ODI Match Pitch Report & Condition

The pitch at Holkar Cricket Stadium for the 3rd ODI between India and New Zealand on January 18, 2026, is a classic batting paradise prepared with flat black soil that offers true bounce and minimal seam movement. Given the venue’s exceptionally small boundaries—56m square and 68m straight—and a lightning-fast outfield, experts anticipate a high-scoring run-fest with an average first-innings score often exceeding 300. The toss will be critical for this day-night encounter; captains are expected to bowl first to exploit the heavy dew likely in the second innings, which makes the ball difficult for bowlers to grip and significantly eases the chase.

IND vs NZ – Probable Playing XI

India Predicted Playing XI:
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh

New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:
Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Kyle Jamieson, Zakary Foulkes, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke

ODI match Prediction: Team chasing are favourites to win today’s IND vs NZ 3rd T20 Match 2026.

Check our previous IND vs NZ 2nd ODI match prediction, accurately proven by the match result.

Today’s Betting Tips for IND vs NZ 3rd ODI Match 2026

• Who will win the toss Today: IND to win the toss and elect to Bowl first.
• Top Batter Performance: Rohit Sharma
• Top Bowler Performance: Kristian Clarke
• Today’s ODI match betting tips: Team chasing are safe bet to play today’s IND vs NZ 3rd ODI Match 2026.