New Zealand Tour of India 2026: NZ XI for 1st ODI in Vadodara | New Zealand Playing 11 vs India

There's something different about this New Zealand squad arriving in Vadodara. It's not just another tour to India—it's a tour without the man who's been their anchor for over a decade. Kane Williamson won't be there. Neither will Rachin Ravindra. Mitchell Santner's being saved for the T20s. What we're left with is a side that'll need to figure things out on the fly.

A Tour Without Williamson

For ten years, Williamson has been the answer to most of New Zealand's problems in India. The pitches turn, the pressure builds, and somehow he'd find a way through. Now Michael Bracewell gets the captaincy, and honestly, it's a proper test of what this team looks like when they can't lean on their most reliable batter.
The official line is workload management and franchise commitments. Fair enough—modern cricket demands these choices. But it does mean this squad needs to prove they're more than just Williamson's supporting cast.

The Venue

BCA Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara isn't exactly a household name. India's been spreading cricket around to newer venues, and this is one of them. Expect a decent batting pitch—300 won't be out of reach if someone gets going. The ball should do a bit early on, then settle down. And dew? Almost guaranteed to show up and make the second innings easier.

Breaking Down the XI

Let's look at who should take the field:

Devon Conway opens because he's the closest thing to Williamson this squad has. Left-hander, good technique, capable of building an innings. He'll need to be at his best.

Will Young partners him. Solid, no-nonsense opener who doesn't try to do too much too early. The kind of player who can quietly set up a good total.
Henry Nicholls at three is your classic accumulator. Not flashy, but he keeps the scoreboard ticking and doesn't give it away. On a tour like this, you need someone who won't panic.

Daryl Mitchell might be New Zealand's most underrated player right now. He's made runs all over the world in tough situations, and he can bowl a bit too—proper overs, not just filling in.

Glenn Phillips brings the X-factor. When he's on, he can change a game in ten overs. Ramps, reverse sweeps, hitting over the top—he's got every shot in the book and a few that aren't.

Michael Bracewell captains from six. He's always been the utility player, handy with bat and ball. Now he's running the show. His off-spin could be crucial in the middle overs.

Mitch Hay keeps wicket at seven. Often overlooked, but a good keeper can save you 20 runs in the field and add 30 with the bat. He does both jobs properly.
Kristian Clarke at eight is interesting—a seam-bowling all-rounder who can bat a bit. New Zealand are clearly testing him out for bigger tournaments down the line.
Kyle Jamieson takes the new ball when fit. He's had back problems, but when he's right, his height alone makes him awkward to face. Even in India, he can get something out of nothing.

Jayden Lennox is the left-arm spinner getting his first ODI call-up. Thrown in the deep end straightaway—India's not exactly where you want to debut as a spinner, but you can't win there without one.

Michael Rae rounds out the attack. He's not going to blow anyone away, but he'll run in all day and keep it tight. Every team needs someone like that.

The XI: Conway, Young, Nicholls, Mitchell, Phillips, Bracewell (c), Hay (wk), Clarke, Jamieson, Lennox, Rae.

What They Need to Do

Winning would be brilliant, obviously. But there's more at stake here. Can Conway prove he's not just filling in for Williamson but genuinely leading the batting? Can the middle order show they've got enough firepower without relying on one man? Can Bracewell and Lennox handle the pressure of bowling to India's batters on home soil?

If they can answer even some of those questions positively, this tour will have been worth it regardless of the series result. Sometimes the journey matters as much as the destination—especially when you're rebuilding on the move.

New Zealand have always punched above their weight. This is their chance to prove they still can, even without their heavyweight champion.